Many companies—even those that are growing and successful—have had to face some slowdowns in the last 2-3 years. And those slow times create extra challenges for leaders who are already trying to navigate through their own uncertainty. In her April 30 “Calling the Game” video, Bobbie LaPorte shares three tips that many of her clients have found helpful when dealing with this kind of situation.
Maintaining Momentum: Practical Advice for Sustaining Team Engagement and Perspective During Industry Downturns
Hi, this is Bobbie LaPorte, back with another week of “Calling the Game,” where I share my own experience and insights while giving you valuable tools you can use to call your own game…and plan the best moves for you and your team.
Most of my clients are tech companies in the Bay Area, and most of them—even those that are growing and having success in the market—have experienced some pullback during the last 2-3 years. Some are now in more positive positions, while others clearly have a way to go to start trending back up and growing.
If you are a leader in one of these challenging companies, how do you maintain a positive perspective yourself and keep your team focused, engaged, and not checked out?
This is a challenge for any leader, particularly after this long period of uncertainty, setbacks, and continued stress for your workforce.
Here’s My Guidance for Tech Leaders
There are no magic bullets here – but I have some guidance that many of my clients have found helpful.
- Acknowledge that all businesses go through ups and downs – even the wildly successful ones. If anything, the last 3 years have surely shown us that. It is the natural rhythm of business. But also recognize that many of your team members who are still early in their careers may never have experienced a setback. It’s always been booming times in their professional lives, so this may be a new – if not unsettling experience – for them.
- Use this slowdown or “pause” in the business while they reset and chart a new course as a time to take a breath and look at opportunity areas where you may not have been able to focus on while the company was growing. Like optimizing people and processes, addressing technical and organizational debt, or finding ways to use the untapped skills of your team in different ways that add value to the organization – now.
- Well, I’m not going to say, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…” but it’s true. These times are the test of a leader’s ability to adapt, build resiliency, see what’s possible, and not default to defeat or resignation. And, very importantly, building this capacity in yourself and your team will make all of you more marketable in what will surely continue to be an uncertain and challenging business environment.
Finally, I will add that – while being in this situation can feel really depressing and challenging while you are in it – just know that it will change, and you will look back on this as just a “blip on the radar” screen of your career.
OK, that’s it for this week’s “Calling the Game.” Hope this helps you gear up for a great week and navigate any curveballs that may come your way!