5 Tectonic Challenges for Leaders

I value your time so I’ll get right to the point because this is complicated.?

Right now leaders need more help than ever before, especially the men.?

We are all dealing with far too much uncertainty, anxiety, fear, frustration, anger, and confusion.?

And—if we’re honest with ourselves—the women are better dealing with this than most men. Somewhere along our evolution, us guys were taught to keep a stiff upper lip, being vulnerable was a weakness, and heaven forbid never show emotion!

Whether it is the latest natural disaster, COVID, political, social, or economic debate, the result is a lack of employees being present and the lack of presenteeism costs ten times more than absenteeism, an average of $23,000 per employee?(footnote1).

These challenges are dramatically reducing employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction, and employee retention. New research indicates that 24 to 40 percent of employees are either thinking of changing their job or already have?(footnote 2).

On top of the human challenges, some industries are facing unprecedented supply chain disruptions that are making it extremely difficult to manage stakeholder expectations.?

The scary thing is that?one mis-step can sink a small company, and fast.

Case in Point: I highly recommend you read this?NPR article about the CEO of Basecamp?who created a new company policy to limit discussion on hot topics. He erroneously thought it would improve productivity. However, employees were very interested in working on personal and social issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion and how the company could be more equitable and compassionate. The new policy limiting these discussions resulted in over 30 percent of his approximately 50 employees resigning in two weeks.?

The world has dramatically changed and?I am sorry to say, but the world of 2018-2019 is never coming back.??The virus, remote-health-work-learning, on-line sales, climate change, higher wages and costs, to mention just a few, are here forever.

Today’s male leaders need way more?heart,?flexibility, resilience, compassion, and EQ?than ever before yet, our education did not groom us this way.?

This “New Era” requires a new breed of leader, one who is more authentic, congruent, and balanced.?

Some of these trends were in motion even before the pandemic, but the pandemic not only?accelerated existing trends, it created tectonic challenges that shifted the consciousness of humanity. That mindset shift created a subsequent torrent of ripple effects.?

5 Tectonic Challenges?

1. Social, political, economic, and spiritual turmoil
2. Massive supply chain disruption
3. A myriad of human resource issues
4. Difficulty managing stakeholder commitments
5. Unprecedented natural disasters?

Causality: Ripple Effects?

1. Shifting industrial patterns and consumer behaviors
2. Burnout at all levels?(footnote 3)
3. Hybrid work environments
4. Rehiring frenzy and on-boarding challenges?

The bottom line is that?men no longer have the luxury of simply focusing on business

After 20 years helping over a thousand executives--whether as a father, a husband, brother, community member, citizen, businessman, or owner--I am comfortable in saying that becoming an authentic leader is your starting point. It begins with understanding your Inner Game of thoughts and beliefs and becoming more self-aware.

Case in Point: The journey begins within. In the book?Insight, organizational psychologist Dr. Tasha Eurich explains that an authentic leader is self-aware and creates self-aware teams. They clearly articulate and act upon their principles, and in so doing, create a more open, genuine and trusting environment that increases productivity and retention.

This is the opposite of how the Basecamp CEO tackled his challenges.

Now, it’s your move. You have a decision to make.

Here is a range of decisions.?Choose an option(s) below and kindly post in the comments.

I would love to hear what you’re thinking as this is a research project.

• Option 0?- I’m good.?(let’s talk because I’d like to hear what you’re doing!)
• Option 1 - Ground Hog Day:?Just keep doing the same old thing in the same way and hope that it gets better.
• Option 2 – Punch Out:?Decide to change jobs, cities, or vocations like the other ~ 30% of people in the workforce (footnote 1).
• Option 3 – Take the Red Pill:?Hire an executive coach and jump into the rabbit hole to help you expand self-awareness and become a more authentic and congruent person.
• Option 4 – Band of Brothers:?Join a men’s support group and discover you’re not alone, the power of camaraderie, and create a bond with like-minded brothers.
• Option 5 – Space Shot:?Identify the members of your team who have the ‘right stuff’ and form a private program customized to meet your needs to not only survive, but adapt, innovate, and soar to new heights.??

(1)??Work Smart Now: How to Jump Start Productivity by Richard Polak?

(2)??The Great Resignation of 2021?

(3)??Talented Employees Are Looking for burnout-Safe Workplaces??