Leadership During the Pandemic
Over the past few weeks many of my clients have been concerned with how they show up as leaders of their business and work. They have teams of people working remotely. In the past, just a scan of the office would allow the opportunity to see a myriad of staffers working hard. Now that they are at home these same leaders question ‘is my team working hard or hardly working?’
As a solopreneur you might have grappled with the motivation you have working at a home office. Sure, you worked from home before the quarantine. It’s different now, work has changed, the economy has changed, and you may be floundering with working from home in an ill-suited office unsure of what to do next.
Here are some tips on being a leader, delegation and remote work:
Be clear on expectations-your own and that of others on your team. By clearly defining the outcome of the project you can delegate and manage more effectively.
Be clear on how you show up as a leader-how do you want to show up? Pick three words that describe how you want to show up in this crisis. One client of mine chose compassionate, listening, and genuine. Each time they entered into a conversation, attended a meeting or talked with a staff member, it was through the lens of those three words.
Tap into their strengths-Using a personality test like Kolbe, Predictive Index or Clifton Strengths will allow you to understand the strengths and workstyles of your team. Knowing strengths of each team member will allow leaders to delegate tasks that draw on those natural strengths.
Give them the resources to do their job-This includes the tools they need to work remotely. Dual screens, stronger internet connection, upgraded phones, headsets. What are the tools that your team needs and do you need to invest in getting new or improved resources? Think beyond the gadgets, what skills and information does your team need to thrive?
Give clarity-As we move back to a hybrid workspace-half working from home and in the office. What clarity do staff need on how and when to go back to the office? There are guidelines for every state. Here is information from the Center for Disease Control.
Accountability– If you or anyone on your team struggles to get focused, organized and productive, click here to learn more about this accountability group. It will help you to define outcomes and next actions so you can get work done.
Celebrate in the success-doing so will create a positive ripple throughout the company. Also know how your team wants to celebrate. The Five Languages of Appreciation At Work breaks down ways you can show appreciation and celebrate in success. The five languages of appreciation at work are quality time, acts of service, gifts, words of affirmation and appropriate physical touch.
Clarity and communication are key aspects of leadership. Being confident that your team has the resources they need also supports the work they need to complete.
Margo Crawford is a Productivity Coach with Wave Productivity. If you are struggling to stay focused, organized and productive at work during the COVID-19 outbreak, you are not alone. Margo works with entrepreneurs, small business owners and business professionals to help them get more focused, organized and productive in their workplace. Set up a consultation today. Margo coaches by phone nationally. If you want to get more organized in your office call 602-677-8275 or email [email protected]