The ONE Big Change To Leadership In The Last 2 Years!
Great leaders (we’re ALL leaders by the way) are going to be in high demand in the next few months. To be a great leader, you need this ONE thing!
There has been a big shift in the demands of leadership in the last two years. Leaders that have not changed or evolved to meet this shift in demands will struggle in the future.
Some of those demands are flexibility, the ability to deal with remote employees and teams, managing burnout, stress, and anxiety, keeping teams productive yet safe, being able to pivot and embrace change.
These are all important skills and to survive and thrive you will need to have embraced these but there is one skill that stands out, way above the rest. You can probably survive in the future if you do not have all the skills above.
However, there is one skill that is imperative to your growth and success as a leader. One skill that will engage your employees, teams, and customers now more than any other. One skill that will drive performance, success, and results like no other.
That skill is……….
The ability to genuinely care! Not only genuinely care, but show that you genuinely care.
Genuinely care for
Your employees and their families
Your customers and clients
Your suppliers and business partners
The lack of real face-to-face engagement plus the challenges of working from home combined with the struggles of various levels of lockdown plus the risk of someone in your immediate or extended family contracting COVID means employees are living on the edge. Throw in the financial struggles and employment uncertainty and the level of stress goes through the roof.
The leader that shows genuine care during this time will get far more from their team. The leader that is able to show empathy and genuine concern for their team will have far higher levels of trust and engagement. Most importantly they will be remembered for these key elements and that will create huge benefits from an organisation and team cultural perspective in the future.
There is a battle for talent right now which means that your employees, your customers, and even your suppliers have a choice.
If you want them to stay, if you want to attract new ones, if you want to grow while others struggle, you will need to show that you care, that people are more than a number, that you have their genuine interests at heart, that you are interested in their lives, their health, their safety, and their futures.
I have already seen the impact of leaders going straight back to their old ways. Business as it was before, no care, no concern, no curiosity just results-driven at almost any cost. Productivity declines, people leave, recruitment is a struggle, engagement and morale is low, customers have gone elsewhere, new customers don’t stick. All because leaders don’t give two hoots about people on the back of one of the toughest times any of us have experienced. Thats a BIG mistake!
It’s not hard to care, it really doesn’t take much time but it will pay dividends not only in your results but for your career. It’s a prerequisite for the successful modern leader.
3 ways to win this week1. Find out more
Have a healthy curiosity about how your people (employees, customers, and suppliers) are feeling. Find out what they are struggling with, where the obstacles are, and also understand their wins, and then don’t be afraid to discuss both. Find out what they love and what they don’t like, who their families are, where they’re from and how they got to where they are right now, Understand their story. Also, don’t be afraid to share your information and your story. A vulnerable leader is a trusted leader and care is a two-way street
2. How can I help?
It’s a simple question that makes a massive difference. When you understand your people’s wins and struggles, this question helps you build a relationship a mutual understanding and gets you in the game. Find ways to help people with their struggles (they will never forget this) and find ways to celebrate their wins, to lift them up, to spur them on, to be strong and confident, and to grow and succeed.
3. Surprise them
It’s the littlest things that make a big difference. Remembering a birthday, a song, a moment, an experience, a wish, and then finding a way to acknowledge that in a genuine way (no messages or emails) makes a world of difference. Picking up on the finer details of someone’s life and then finding a way to recognise or acknowledge this will endear people to you, help them relate to you, and connect with you.
FINAL THOUGHTS
“People contribute more, share their ideas, and go above and beyond for a leader that genuinely cares!.”
Rowdy “Care“ McLean
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Play BIG!
I can help you and your team WIN like never before in 2022. It’s an exciting time full of opportunities and I have no doubt I can help you achieve results you never imagined. Help you harness the opportunities, possibilities and embrace the changes that are constantly coming our way. I can help you deal with the ambiguity and uncertainty and find pockets of strength that will drive your future success, guaranteed!
Email me at rowdy@playabiggergame.com.au with the word RESULTS and I will get you all the details.
