The pandemic has changed leadership forever — here’s how to be good at it
Tips and tricks on how to adapt to the future of work
During the last few months, businesses have been reactive rather than proactive — understandable, as no one could’ve predicted the suddenness and severity of the pandemic. Looking toward the future, preparation, and a thought-through process of transformation is needed.
Here are a few tips and tricks we learned from Janssen’s keynote on how to plan for the future.
- Maintain transparency
Without being physically in the same space, keeping everyone in the loop on things can be difficult.It’s importantto update your team regularly because they need to be aware of developments within the company for the context of their work. Additionally, it’s important to be upfront with your team about your intentions, for example, whether the situation of working remotely will be temporary or whether it’ll be more of a long-term thing.
- Trust your team
As has been evident at ABN AMRO, switching to remote working has challenged a lot of previous misassumptions about productivity levels decreasing. In order to maintain good levels of productivity moving forward, whether you’re working remotely or not, leaders must relinquish some control andtrust their teamto get their work done, without trying to micromanage everything. While taking a step back to let them get on with their work, it’s important to keep the conversation going about your expectations, and providing feedback on performance can help guide your team and provide the framework for them to achieve results.
- Be flexible to your team’s needs
The pandemic has highlighted that people with children or other life commitments simply aren’t able to work at certain times. Instead of setting strict rules around working times, companies have had to adapt to loosening their grip on the traditional idea of a nine-to-five. The future of work will continue to demand flexibility from leaders with regard to the needs of your teams. Allowing your team to create a schedule thatbest suits themis imperative for their productivity, as well as job satisfaction and mental wellbeing.
The greater trust and empathy your team feels from you, the more likely they are to be motivated and dedicated to their work. Being approachable allows your team to be open with you about what works best for them — not everyone is able to work remotely for example, in which case it’s better to encourage those people to come to the office or shared working space.
- Communicate effectively
Finally and most importantly, strong communication is essential. Create a structure with regular meetings, not only discussing business but also discussing other feelings and ideas to connect on a more personal level with your team. At ABN AMRO, research has shown that 20% of employees still feel concerned about their health and safety, in the wake of the pandemic. Janssen predicted this figure will likely increase, but by maintaining good communication, you will always be aware of how your team is feeling, and be able to adapt accordingly. Leadership isn’t about being transactional, but about being supportive, fosteringgood relationships, and creating the best environment for your team to thrive in.
