Transcript of Coronavirus Curveball Tip of the Week: Step Back and Reflect
Hi everyone, Bobbie LaPorte here again with this week’s Coronavirus Curveball tip of the week. It feels like we’ve been in this state for a long time; days run into weeks run into months. And by all accounts, we will be in this for a while longer.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been sharing what I hope are practical, science-based tips to help you navigate your daily work with your teams. Now I think it is a good time to step back, reflect and retrospectively look at how you’ve been leading during this time.
Because here is the conclusion I’ve come to:
“What you do now will be folklore for a long time”
What do I mean by that? You’ve likely been focusing on your daily routines: meeting after meeting, working on deliverables, managing toward weekly and monthly goals. All of this is important. But if you asked your team about how you’re leading them through this challenging time – what would they say? Are you really showing that you care, demonstrating real empathy for them? Are you sharing your own vulnerability during this time? Are you valuing their strengths and asking them to contribute in ways they may not have before?
There is so much fear and risk right now, but also so much possibility to create stronger relationships with your team that endure for a long time, building loyalty and retention for the future.
When this phase is behind us, whatever that means, you want your team members to say: “I remember how my manager treated me; how they were there when I needed them; how they helped me see how to make the most of this time, to see what is possible; how they saw me as a whole person, not just an employee.”
So here’s my tip:
This week and every week after this, stop to reflect on how you are keeping the human connection with your team; how are you sharing positive, affirmative actions that inspire them and help them see what is possible, and how you are setting the stage for what work be like in whatever “next” looks like.
Because “What you do now will be folklore for a long time”
That’s my (somewhat philosophical) message for this week. I’ll see you again next Monday. In the meantime, remember that leadership makes the greatest difference when the world around us is uncertain. Take care of yourself!