Between rising interest rates, the tight labor market, and a lingering banking crisis, no one would blame your workforce or you – for feeling more than a little apprehensive right now. Yet experts also say this can be a great opportunity for leaders to step in – and inspire. Everything moves at the speed of trust. So what does it mean to lead in a low trust world? We looked for some answers.
Step 1: Build confidence in yourself—first
Be confident first before assuming others to be confident in you. And the three ingredients of self-confidence are calm, courage, and empathy. Calm is key because confidence starts with self-regulation. Leaders who don’t have emotional self-control create fear and uncertainty. Courage in today’s context is the willingness to persevere forward without the guarantee of success. Finally, empathy matters because it enables you to show people you care and understand a situation that may be stressful for them. A reported 61% of employees who claimed their leaders were empathetic said they were able to be innovative, versus 13% with less empathetic leaders.
Step 2: Increase employee interaction
When your firm is facing headwinds, connecting more frequently with key employees is a must-do. Companies with effective communications strategies are reportedly 3.5 times more likely to outperform their peers. In-person meetings are recommended if possible, or a phone call as the next best option. Although online calls can reach a wider audience, direct phone calls sometimes have a greater impact.
Step 3: Practice proactive leadership
When you’re not sure about a situation, staying inactive often increases feelings of uncertainty in your direct reports. The better your judgments and observations, the more data you can gather to make better decisions. Therefore, making decisions, accepting feedback, and self-correction help push you forward. Doing nothing is like freezing your activities. Proactive leadership is a key component of employee engagement, which, according to a Gallup study, can lead to 21% greater profitability from highly engaged business units.
If you are a leader ready to develop skills to address today’s challenges, or if you are looking to develop other leaders in your organization, learn more about SEED’s Leadership 4.0 for Top Performance training course. Please contact us via hotline (+84)28 3838 4207.
Source: Korn Ferry
