A Time To Thrive, Not Just Survive
Conditions are difficult all around. It’s impacting all of us to a wide range of degrees. It’s evident with all our clients-academics (K-12, higher education), business, athletics and ministry. Very few individuals and organizations are not feeling the impacts.
During periods of higher and sustained stress and uncertainty, our brain messes with us even more than normal. It can trick us into a complacent mindset. It can instill more of a “hunker down”, protectionist attitude. Negativity that didn’t impact us and our teams before is now prevalent. Tempers run short. We may not feel as safe as we once did. All of these responses are normal.
What’s most important is recognizing when they are occurring and not allowing them to dominate our mindset to the point of causing us to get stuck and frozen in place. The longer we think this way and stay stuck, the stronger the brain wiring gets that will keep us there.
Here is some advice, integrated from personal experience, some very progressive client leaders and research.
Cultivate a mindset in yourself and teammates that you are in more control than you may be thinking. You override the pressures your brain is imposing on you. Define what leadership “well-being” and what leading well means to you and your teams.
Shift your leadership focus from checking in our project status, to checking in on your people’s well-being. Create a safe environment.
DO NOT wait to restart transformation efforts that may have been put on hold. Candidly, these conditions and their effects will likely last for years. Double down on leading change initiatives. Give your teams some bold goals to focus on, providing optimism and hope for the future.
Invest in emotional well-being and resiliency training for yourself and your teams. Don’t assume you or your people know enough in these areas. Research shows that most of us are not conditioned and skillful enough here. This is critical and strategic.
There are no easy, cookie cutter answers to leading during these challenging times. However, know that your teams are looking at you now more than ever to lead and help them navigate. The shadow of your leadership impacts is ever bigger now.
Be or become that leader that gives people what they are looking for and maybe even desperately need Ask where they need more of you. Help them THRIVE and not just SURVIVE.
Reach out now if you need more in these areas. We can help you!