Observation
We were a bit flat in our household this week. My daughter and I were feeling under the weather and we were all very aware that if it were not for the pandemic we would have been flying to Atlanta for the new Mr & Mrs Turner’s wedding. I guess there was also a sense of entering week 8 but still a long and uncertain future ahead of us. We tried hard but it hasn’t been a particularly fun week.
As leaders, your teams will go through ups and downs, you can’t stop that but you can stop it becoming a downward spiral.
‘You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once but don’t underestimate the importance you have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.’
Michelle Obama
Current Leadership Challenge
Don’t Panic, Trust The Process
The context has changed and you may need to reinvent your business but I am far from convinced you need to reinvent your leadership.
If you are an experienced and capable leader, you know what works – most of the time!
Now is not the time to forget that. Resist the temptation to always try and play the Stephen Gerrard 50 metre screamer of a pass.
Stick with what has served you well and keep the leadership disciplines and rhythms going. This doesn’t mean that the outcomes don’t need to be innovative or bold, but it does mean holding your nerve, staying in the question, closing down the risks and working hard to flush out the opportunities. At some point it may require game changing action but you will be in a better position to judge the moment, make the call and act on it, if you have trusted the leadership process that you know works for you.
Practical Action
Stick With What Works
On April 1st I completed three decades of working with business leaders. Here are my key leadership lessons from 30 years of CEO conversations:
Own the narrative
Lean in early to the tough issues
Have A* players in the key roles and no jerks in any roles
Own the rhythm of the business – make things happen and constantly follow through
Over index on communication and engagement
Lead by example – be the message, uphold the values and role model the desired behaviours
Constantly seek and share; data, insights and feedback
Understand, articulate, expect and demand great
Be pragmatic – deal with reality and what works, not what you hope it will be
Focus on your role – how you best add value and manage your energy
Leverage external input, support and challenge
Enjoy it – you only get one life (even in the current environment!)
Most leadership is about hard work and taking responsibility. Sadly there is no magic silver bullet, however in my experience, those who act on the above are the most effective.
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