The pandemic changed work paradigms throughout much of the business world, and many companies are still struggling to define their in-person, remote, and hybrid models for employees. Of course, no single scenario will meet everyone’s needs, and leaders must figure out how to navigate this time of transition in a manageable way. The only factor fully within a leader’s control, however, is their own leadership. Each leader chooses how they want to lead, and that decision can shape their thinking about which leadership skills and strategies will bring them the most fulfilling work situations. To improve their ability to manage well in today’s environment, they need to adopt some new approaches to leadership.
Become More Flexible
Some organizations require their leaders to come into the office on particular days, whereas others let them choose when to be onsite. Whatever form it takes, this hybrid (and mandated) weekly schedule is wreaking havoc with childcare arrangements for many leaders, because during the pandemic they grew accustomed to being more available for their children and now they must adjust to the loss of that flexibility. At the same time, many leaders feel that they accomplished more when they worked from home and now have to figure how to maintain that productivity now that they’re back in the office. Because all of these changes require different thinking about the work day, leaders need to stay flexible, open, and agile.
Listen with Care
Mastery of active listening is more critical than ever for leaders. With interactions among staff constantly shifting among in-person meetings, video conferences, e-mail, text messages, and other media, a leader can lose focus on a project in a nanosecond. Some key strategies can help them sharpen their listening skills:
- When eye contact is possible, use (and read) it carefully.
- Ask questions to clarify any possible uncertainty. Remember, there are no stupid questions.
- Be present and focused on the other party in the interaction. Don’t try to multitask.
- Use body language that aligns with the words being used so the message isn’t lost.
- Become More Self-Aware
Self-aware people have an understanding of their own emotions and a curiosity about themselves. Therefore, a lack of self-awareness makes it very difficult for someone to achieve effective leadership. For example, it is important for a leader to identify what matters most to them and understand whether they can succeed in their current workplace; someone who feels underutilized (or undervalued) may want to reevaluate their current role. Additionally, leaders should understand how others perceive them. For example, are they considered empathetic and approachable, or do team members avoid them at all cost?
Cultivate Stronger Relationships
A leader should spend time getting to know—and build trust with—the most important people in their professional and work lives, which include bosses, colleagues, family, and friends.
- Ask them to have coffee or lunch just to catch up about their world outside of work.
- Be sure to give them credit for their contributions to others’ projects.
- Provide support for them when they go through challenging health issues.
Spending time getting to know others helps leaders demonstrate their trustworthiness to them, and trust-based relationships are essential to effective management.
Know What Matters
Today, leadership is a fluid role that requires each leader to be authentic and live their life according to their own unique set of values. If someone thinks it’s important to work for an organization with a higher level mission, they should choose a company that meets this criteria. A person who values maintaining a workout schedule, for example, should make sure that their professional commitments allow them to do that. Similarly, someone who finds sanity among people who demonstrate kindness should prioritize interactions with them. Leaders need to take the time to acknowledge those things that matter to them personally and try to include them in their lives.