3 Essential Components to Lead Through Any Storm - Anthony Glover
The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic completely revolutionized the workplace and forced leaders to adjust to new circumstances — staff shortages, reduced employee morale, and increased client demand. During the pandemic, companies that outperformed their competitors were those that saw far beyond the COVID-19 crisis and focused on people metrics rather than business metrics. I recently read an article published by DVM360, Resilient Leadership: 3 Essential Components to Lead Through Any Storm, which highlights how leaders can successfully lead their team in today’s rapidly changing environment.
To alleviate the abrupt changes COVID-19 left on the workplace, companies have shifted their strategic plans from a business growth mindset to a business resilience mindset. While growth is still a critical aspect of an organization’s long-term health, it is equally as important to be flexible and resilient, especially in today’s dynamic market. The companies that outperformed their competitors during the pandemic were those that demonstrated strategic ability — “one’s ability to respond swiftly and tactically, or initiate change while also maintaining focus.” There are 3 core areas of strategic agility that leaders should prioritize in order to maintain a “resilient and sustainable business”:
Leadership: Exuding Contagious Positivity
The pandemic has highlighted the relationship between mental health and well-being and positive leaders. COVID-19 has taken a large toll on employee’s mental health and leaders have the power to use positive relational energy to transform the dynamic of the workforce. “Energizers’ greatest secret is that, by uplifting others through authentic, values-based leadership, they end up lifting both themselves and their organizations.” As a result of positive relational energy, organizations have seen increased:
- Innovation
- Teamwork and workplace cohesion
- Financial performance, including productivity and quality
- Job satisfaction
- Well-being
- Engagement
- Performance
- Relationships with family
Culture: Demonstrate the 3 Pillars
“There are 3 pillars behind every company culture: mission, vision, and values. These pillars shape the beliefs and behaviors of employees as well as serve as a foundation that leaders and their employees can lean upon in times of crisis or upheaval.” Similar to the contagious feelings from positive leadership, leading with the company’s mission, vision, and values in everyday actions inspires others to do the same. Give recognition to those employees who live by the company’s pillars; this enhances employee morale and demonstrates how employees across all levels of the company are united under the same values.
People: Expanding Opportunities to Advance
“According to a survey from the American Psychological Association (APA), feeling valued at work brings better physical and mental health, as well as higher levels of engagement, satisfaction, and motivation.” Foster an empowering environment of continuous learning. This can be by investing in employee training and development programs that provide individuals with opportunities to advance their career, education, and personal life. Celebrate both big and small achievements. “This not only creates a culture of learning within the practice but inspires others around them to grow in their roles, too. And if you need another reason to invest in your workforce, remember, a stronger workforce offers a competitive edge to the company at large.”
The pandemic has taught leaders how to navigate through unprecedented times. As the future holds many more uncertainties, it is important for leaders to be prepared to succeed in any conditions — and they can do so by building a strategically agile framework that prioritizes culture and people.
You can read the original article here.
About Anthony Glover: Anthony is a highly experienced business professional who leads through inspiration and collaboration. With a successful background in management, sales management, relationship management, corporate development, and operations management, Anthony is well-versed in developing creative problem-solving initiatives for difficult challenges. Currently, Anthony serves as Global Payments and Global Client Executive at VISA and is working towards driving positive transformation in the world.
