We humans are an especially adaptable species. Some of us adapted to living above the Arctic Circle, for generations. Others spend their lives in jungle villages, or urban downtowns with far more concrete and asphalt than nature. After a year of COVID, many of us have adapted to a new workplace normal, one that merges …
With so many Americans now finally vaccinated, there is light at the end of this dark tunnel. Unfortunately, we still don’t grasp the tunnel’s length. We will emerge this year into a new world. Much will seem familiar, but the landscape also will include changes from the pre-COVID environment. We turn to leaders of all …
A paralyzing, anxiety-charged experience: waiting for results after a medical test. In the absence of information, people tend to plunge towards bad places. Reliable information, on the other hand, dampens and in many cases eliminates anxiety. People now are information-starved about their workplaces. They hop on Zoom calls, and exchange texts and emails, but it’s …
Among other things, the Year of COVID hatched quite a lot of distrust. People lost trust in politics, medicine, government, employers and much more. The erosion of trust is bad news for leaders. Of all of the foundations upon which strong leadership depends, trust is the most important. The spine. The pandemic and its aftermath …
Leaders often feel alone. Responsibility for connecting, communicating and much more rests with added weight on their shoulders. They often don’t have colleagues with whom they can share their challenges and struggles. I have found that one of the most important aspects of strong leadership is being OK with uncertainty. Lack of clarity is common …
In fact, over-communicate. We aren’t connected in the same manner as pre-COVID. Those bonds, often borne out of physical proximity in offices, were powerful communication vectors. Messages would get filtered down from leadership about new initiatives. People would talk about them in lunch breaks and meetings, during chance encounters in hallways. Messages spread quickly and …
Listening and leadership complement each other in powerful ways. There is no such thing as a good leader who lacks listening skills. Listening is essential for effective leadership. I urge leaders to practice listening with partners, friends and colleagues. As the listener, pay close attention. Try to restate what you hear. The next step is …
Connections dominated our old work worlds. The people at desks and offices around us. The in-person meetings. The lunch breaks and clear-the-head walks with work friends. Many of us spent a third or more of each weekday with our colleagues. Connection happened, and it improved our lives. We are hard-wired as a species to feel …
A client of mine, recently told me a story illustrating something I’ve been routinely hearing during conversations with business leaders. After a year of working from home, the firm’s employees recently began alternating weeks at home and in the office. My client decided to throw an outdoor luncheon, to bring people together again. “It was …
Leading Through the Pandemic: Foundational Practices Read More »
The coronavirus pandemic may now be slowly drifting into history, at least in the United States. Vigilance is still necessary. But the contraction of the medical emergency does not mean the viruses’ 16-month spectacle of social and cultural upheaval is drawing to a close. We now are only beginning to grapple with COVID’s long-term effects …
Leading Through the Pandemic: Six Practices For Better Engagement Read More »