Leadership for uncertain times: Think customer, team and execution

In these uncertain times, how do we continue to lead high-performing teams? Not surprisingly, it’s a question I’m hearing a lot. Strong leadership is in high demand as we come out of the global pandemic with economic uncertainty, massive tech layoffs, changing customer needs and new obstacles to overcome.

Look, I’m not one to make long lists of New Year’s resolutions. I do, however, believe every new year represents a fresh start—an opportunity to celebrate wins and reflect on opportunities ahead. As leaders in these challenging times, it’s also critical we help our teams develop and execute solid plans that achieve meaningful results and positive outcomes.

Here are some of my thoughts to help both new and veteran leaders navigate the road ahead:

Think customer: From a business perspective, it’s crucial for leaders to be customer-obsessed and encourage team members to adopt a similar mindset. That attitude will rally a team around goals and opportunities that really matter (and make your role as a leader a little easier). Knowing your customers' pain points and helping your team identify solutions to those problems will go a long way toward leading successfully.

Think team: It’s been proven time and time again: the best managers are effective coaches—this multi-year study by Google is a helpful primer. Coaches know how to get the best out of their team and actually elevate their performance. I’ve talked before about what makes a good coach great —they have a vision, know the competition and inspire others to exceed expectations. Hall of Fame football coach Don Shula (who beat my beloved—and then undefeated—1985 Chicago Bears in his 20th season), said it best, “As a coach, your high standards of performance, attention to detail and—above all—how hard you work sets the stage for how your players perform.”

It’s important your team has the tools, training and confidence to do their best work. Set high standards, practice active listening and learn what you can do to help them overcome challenges.

Think execution: There’s never a bad time to think about your team’s overall performance—recognize key accomplishments, reflect on progress and refine plans to achieve key goals. Strategies are important, but what matters most is your team’s ability to execute.?

Don’t overthink it. Collaborate and discuss the following questions as a team:?

• Start simple: What’s working and what’s not??
• What people, process and technology do you need to be successful?
• How do you break up big goals into smaller chunks or key milestones?

What produced positive outcomes yesterday, might not yield results today or in the future. We all have to stay curious, seize opportunities and work hard to get better every day. Share your comments and leadership advice with the community!

See you next time,

Erik