Is your team behaving like Egg Shells?

There is nothing more difficult when it comes to managing people, than having to delicately tread like you are on Egg Shells. The energy becomes so heavy, and often feels like no matter how cautious you are, that you are bound to create a "crunch"!

During times of uncertainty, stress levels increase, fear levels increase, and our human experience through the eyes of our own perception become a little fuzzy. We then start to seek outward reasons as to why we feel the way we feel. Without being conscious of it, in that moment, we start to blame.

The real challenge with this (apart from the friction we cause with others), is that we totally give our power away! Our ability to make the changes necessary, to maneuver from the situation of feeling cornered, into the direction we seek to feel empowered (expressed in the diminished term as wanting to "be in control").

Over the past three months, I have been in a metaphorical helicopter. Taking a more distant perspective in how I view what's happening around us. I have taken the peddle off the gas when it comes to posting on social media (I have still been active, just not posting) so as to sense (or intuitively feel) at lot more than I usually would. My mind goes to:

• What themes and energy do I notice?
• Is there something that people are calling out for more now than ever?
• Can I do something to positively affect the issues I am noticing?

I fully appreciate that we see what we want to see. We are hard-wired as human beings, through the Reticular Activating System in our brains, to identify more of what we are focussed on. That said, when we take a step back, we can pick up on the signs and messages that are there to direct our next step. Add a sprinkle of pure intention to serve humanity, and our intuition speaks louder than ever.

My response?

People are hurting. They have a level of anxiety that for many is foreign territory to a point where they do what most of us do, which is to try and ignore it...only to realise, it's not working.

This is where true leadership needs to rise to the call. Stand with a beacon of light, to shed as much kindness and compassion as you can muster up...then stretch a little more.

Too often we dismiss the behavior of our team as being "their problem", when in fact it's our problem. And, on so many levels.

NO, this is not about turning the gun and pointing the blame at ourselves...it's about taking responsibility - or perhaps "response-ability". Take stock of your own emotions first. Are you, as the leader, also feeling vulnerable, scared, anxious?

Acknowledge this to a trusted friend, colleague, mentor. Temporarily put aside your own needs and create a dialogue with your team focussed on TRUST. Without trust, people don't feel safe. Without feeling safe, people behave like egg shells. Ready to crack at a moment of pressure. Often, at the perception of pressure that feels very real to them...and therefore real enough to warrant attention.

• Have you as the leader created a trusting and safe environment?
• Is it ok to fail...knowing you have their back?
• Are you available (both in time and emotion) to truly hear their concerns?

I know this is not easy. Humans are both simple, yet extremely complex. We Think, Feel and Do...all at once. All three driven by different faculties of the mind.

My advice - STOP. Take a breath. Set aside dedicated time and space to openly communicate with your team. And to make this truly work - share your own vulnerability first.

Trust me...the space you will open will create more respect than your fear of being viewed as weak. The benefits are huge and the value is exponential.

Most of all - never confuse Kindness for Weakness!