The Leadership Challenge Today
February 23, 2009 by admin
What we need today are LEADERS! Whether your role is CEO, Vice President, Director, Manager or Supervisor, in this challenging economy, your people need your leadership more than ever. They need your vision, inspiration, commitment and honest feedback. They need your best every day!
When I came to the DFW Metroplex in 1984, I didn’t know we were in a recession. All I knew was that I was in a new city, in a new career, and I was faced with endless opportunity. I quickly became a leader in our organization. Why? I believed. You could say I didn’t know or I didn’t listen, but more importantly I believed in what we were doing and the growth opportunities ahead for all of us.
So 25 years and at least four recessions later, we are once again in a similar economic downturn. Products and services are harder to sell. You are expected to accomplish more with less people and resources than ever before. However, your role as a leader is to lead your team through this challenging time and assure them that success is possible even in this economy. You are their leader. Whether chosen, appointed or elected, you are the leader. What should a leader do during tough times? Here are 6 Qualities of a Good Leader to keep your team motivated and inspired even during tough times:
L - Look around, walk around. Get out of your office and off your computer! If the first thing you do every day is go to your office and log on to your e-mail, STOP! It will wait. Most of us get our e-mail on a PDA so there should be no hurry. Walk around and talk to your employees. Find out what they are working on and if they need help. Know what is going on in their lives besides work. LOL - Laugh out loud! Tell a funny story or just see the humor in life. Keep a smile on your face, and it will make the atmosphere lighter for everyone.
E - Energy - the Pace of the Leader is the Pace of the Pack. Do you ever wonder what is going on? Why is everyone dragging around? Look in the mirror. What are you doing each day to motivate the troupes? What example are you setting with customers and co-workers? Do you approach every day with a sense of urgency, with a plan and an enthusiasm for life even during hard times?
A - Attitude - the Best is Yet to Come! Did you or your company have your best year ever in 2008? Are you worried about 2009? Yes, an understanding of reality is important. Having a good attitude means that you still have hope and vision for the future. It doesn’t mean that you disregard what is happening, but that you lead the way with a great attitude, hope and expectations. You are not giving up, and you really believe that getting through the tough times makes us stronger.
D - Determination, Perspiration & Inspiration - Don’t ever let them see you sweat! It takes daily commitment, daily example setting, daily hands-on interaction to lead a team during tough times. Identify the vision. Communicate it visually and verbally in order for them to see your optimism. Find ways to set the example every day. It might mean calling at least one client everyday just to say, “Thank You” or taking the time to meet with one employee everyday to give them reinforcement of how they make a difference in the organization. Get involved!
E - Engaged - Engage your Team. Take time to listen. Sometimes people just need you to hear their concerns. You may not be able to change the circumstances of today, but letting people know you care and have their best interests in mind will help them focus on the job and not their worries. Have focus groups, and give your team projects that inspire them such as creative ways to provide value-added services to your customers or identify opportunities to give back to the community through non-profits. Get creative!
R - Relationships - Employees and customers want friends they can trust. If you haven’t read, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, do it now. People want to work for and with friends, and your role is to influence people to trust your ideas and directions. At no time is this book more appropriate than now. People need strong, influential leaders that they can trust.
Do not just “manage,” but choose to lead. What is the difference? We manage budgets, time and e-mail; we lead people with vision, inspiration, enthusiasm, commitment and attitude. Tough times call for strong managers who are strong leaders. It is time to lead your team!
Note: Do you and/or your managers have the skills they need to lead through these tough times? Make sure managers have the tools in their tool belt to be the best leader possible. For more information about Leadership Skills for Tough Times and other resources offered by Delta Dallas click here.
Also feel free to contact Yvonne Abel, SPHR, 972-788-2300, yabel@deltadallas.com.
