What your company needs right now!

Bosses, managers, directors, and c-suite execs all over the world are adjusting to the abrupt transition of shutting the doors of their physical locations, moving their workforce to their living rooms, and living the new reality of being a leader in a time of crisis. While leaders everywhere are balancing many responsibilities at once, it can be difficult to maintain a level of leadership that will move your company forward, despite the current obstacles and barriers. During this time of uncertainty, as you’re navigating the rough waters and leading your team through unchartered territory, there is one thing that will prove life-saving for your company and its dedicated workers, and that is trust. 

Reconnect with your values

Fast Company says that “people who have no sense of who they are–or what they stand for–are rudderless, drifting whichever way the wind blows.” Whether you are a fashion company, a leader in the tech space, or an innovative marketing agency, your company was built on values and remains tied to a vision, and that is exactly what your employees need right now. “Research suggests that people only truly believe that their company has a purpose and clear values when they see management making a decision that sacrifices short-term profitability for the sake of adhering to those values.” During feelings of uneasiness and unpredictability, when you can’t simply go to the breakroom for a quick chat, employees will, now more than ever, find the worth in your company’s values. Due to the current climate, will your values need to adapt or will you need to make a shift so that your company continues to align their work and behavior with the organization’s values? When employees are looking for something to hold on to, as a worker and as a person, it will build trust to know that their company’s value structure is still in place and that it still acts as a foundation for them to stand on during this turbulent time in their employment.

Share your thoughts

Forbes lists 10 reasons why transparency should be at the top of your agenda right now and always, including greater profitability, smoother operations, and happier employees, but let’s focus on the latter. As leaders, we all understand the significance of the people who work alongside us to further our company’s mission, and when our company is experiencing a disturbance or instability, we need our people to band together in order to weather the storm. There is a global crisis like we have never experienced in our lifetimes, therefore, it’s acceptable that you don’t have all of the answers, which makes it imperative that you are the most transparent that you’ve ever been in leadership. Build trust with your people by sharing your decision making process, acknowledging the possibility of layoffs, addressing the threats to your company, and most importantly, flattening your hierarchy so that the flow of clear information is seamless. 

Provide quality information

It’s easy to get caught up in the news and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to trust the information that you receive and validate whether or not it is from a credible source. The last thing that your employees want to do is to also feel that way about their own company. Unfortunately, “in the absence of information, people will create their own stories, predictions, and interpretations, often inaccurate at best and conspiratorial at worst,” says Forbes. When it’s not an option to stop by an employee’s desk to check on them or run into them in the hallway, leaders need to make an effort to ensure that quality and accurate information is accessible to employees whether it involves meeting minutes, project requirements, or the state of the company. When employees feel as if their company is a reliable source of information, that leads to inherent trust.

Make a difference  

Not only are people looking for trustworthy information right now, but they are also seeking something to believe in and something to stand behind. It’s inspiring to see local, national, and international brands stepping up to make an impact during this time of worldwide crisis. It’s moving and uplifting to watch individuals and companies alike utilizing their talents and resources to make the world a better, healthier place. It would be hard to be an employee and watch your company stand back and do nothing, when there is so much to do. Listen to your employees if they have an idea about giving back during this time of need, and put resources toward an act of good. No good deed is too small, so rally your team and start brainstorming what your company can provide. It instills a sense of trust knowing that your company will get in the game when times get tough, when many others are still on the sidelines, waiting for someone else to do it. 

Accept failure

Poet Alexander Pope wrote, “To err is human,” and right now, that couldn’t be more true. It is not your duty as a leader to be perfect during these circumstances. It’s your job to navigate this crisis the best you know how, admitting missteps along the way, supporting your people, and pledging to do everything in your power to keep your team connected and your company afloat. Discuss the challenges that you’re having with working from home and talk about what didn’t work last week and how you plan to make it work this week. Self-accountability of failure is just as important as being flexible with failure within your team. As long as you and your team are learning together along the way, failure can often prove useful if you view it as an opportunity, rather than an obstacle. Winston Churchill is quoted as saying that “success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” So keep your spirits high and keep on moving, no matter what comes your way.  

As leaders, we are living a moment in history that will ultimately define your company’s legacy. A Forbes article says that “the way you treat employees now will determine how they, as well as others, will view your leadership later, long after the crisis is behind us.” Building trust is what your company and its people need right now and how your leadership responds in this time of crisis will be a defining moment for your business and will be remembered for many years to come.

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At Artisan Technology Group, we solve complex problems. We care about our people and we are dedicated to our community. Are you looking for an innovative technology solution that is designed and built specifically for your business? Call (888) 423-2197 to speak with a member of the Artisan Technology team about your company goals.