LEADERSHIP CAPITAL

Are you looking to Boss, Manage or Lead in these volatile times?

As you walk through this article, imagine yourself as the tree trunk and your immediate team as the extended branches and leaves. Are you helping your branches and leaves flourish? Are your roots deep enough to get the whole department grounded?

In these especially interesting times when everyone is under an increased amount of pressure be it due to income taxes rising, a general higher cost of living across the globe or just simply being frustrated at our climate dive situation… Many of us are under an increased amount of pressure! Sometimes closing work on? Tuesday feels like a Thursday because you are giving your all to stay in the game, be an active and “seen” employee because you know you absolutely just have to in order to stay in the game (game being your current employment or even self-employment). Now fortunately or unfortunately, the cracks in our foundation may begin to show if they have not already especially for those in leadership roles with alot more eyes on you. One key typical phrase I have come to hear is “These days my boss…These days my Manager… These days our department head”... the key word is these days.

Fun fact for all the people in leadership out there: A resentful workforce can make your life very difficult. They can hurt you by actually doing nothing! During the “personnel management era” this would be described as a “Go-Slow” today we call it “Quiet quitting” which I am sure a majority of us have read or heard about in the last 18 months when this phrase and concept re-debuted itself. Those who do have a lot to lose should they not go above and beyond are typically working under a cloud of anxiety,judgement, and lingering consequences so they do what they must to keep their managers, team and overall organisation performing or seemingly so not only to the best of their abilities but even beyond.

So as a manager or a person in leadership at your organisation how do you keep a balance for you team in spite of said anxiety and our global employment crisis while keeping your head on straight? I’ll start by saying there’s not a one size fits all but there are indeed some basics we can live by and believe we have done our best given the circumstances:

1. Allow your team members/ subordinates to have a voice.Their vote may not count to many matters but it does matter that they know they contributed to a pause in thought or action and they are more than just their output and KPI/ OKR deliverables. Give them the space to articulate what they know should be happening to make a difference.
2. Step back and watch miracles happen! It’s the age old saying of “Diamonds are developed under pressure”. Believe it or not your team are the key to several solutions to problems your departments may be facing because simply put they are closer to the action. Give them the space to implement what they know should be happening to make a difference.
3. Always keep in mind to practise what you preach. Give them the opportunity to see in your shoes and to choose to walk in your shoes through and through. Your actions symbolise more than who you are. They are a representation of your expectations and values. And if they don’t align with what you preach, it’ll undermine your leadership capital . Give yourself an opportunity to be the role model you had or wishes you had!

With a little autonomy, and a little independence, topped of with a mindset of leadership capital and how you can hone yours better; you and your team members should be able to brave through many storms and no casualties left behind because they had such growth experiences, their next opportunity has surely built them for their own success as well as given them the stepping tones to true leadership success in trying times.

Always happy to discuss professional coaching with those interested. Simply LI message me, let's discuss the possibilities and let's grow together!