The type of leader you are will determine the type of business you have. Your leadership approach will determine the culture of your business from the top down, so it is imperative to lead through inspiration.
When business is good, it can be easier to lead. A true test of leadership is learning how to navigate the rough waters of tough and uncertain times with resilience. Mastering the art of leadership is no small feat, but staying positive and keeping your team solution-focused will inspire success through even the toughest of times.
Address the Elephant in the Room
Inspirational leaders say it’s best to address and discuss challenges with teams openly. Pretending there isn’t a problem or keeping issues limited to certain staff members can lead to more internal speculation and conflicts. Approaching a problem as a team often means giving employees an opportunity to help problem-solve with you.
Communicate More than Ever
When times are tough, inspiring leaders should communicate with their teams frequently. Disappearing from view and lack of communication can demotivate your team, impeding the ability to overcome challenges.
Keep your finger on the pulse of your team by asking for feedback and providing a platform for voicing concerns. Staying in tune with your team will ensure that you know where and when issues arise so you can identify who might need more motivation or assistance. This will help keep good employees engaged and feeling appreciated. Taking care of your team will, in turn, help you take care of your business.
Show Your Team What to Do
Tough times call for rolling up your sleeves and climbing into the trenches. The most inspirational leaders aren’t afraid to work alongside their teams to provide guidance and problem solve together. When leaders are unwilling to be a part of the team, getting their hands dirty alongside employees, especially during tough times, it can negatively impact morale and loyalty.
Be Flexible
Inspire and motivate your team by creating flexible programs to support them during challenging times and beyond. During recent shutdowns work-from-home or hybrid working models proved to be beneficial to both employees and employers. Leaders who implemented flexible programs during this time were able to maintain a level of productivity and often higher efficiency while continuing to keep employees engaged during such a tumultuous time.
If you start with a strong vision and direction for your business and build your team engagement strategy around that, you can guide your business — and your team – through any storm.
If you need help figuring out how to lead your team inspirationally through tough times, please don’t hesitate to reach out, and as always THINK BIG!
THINK BIG!
Jon
