The global pandemic has changed the world in every sense. Where once we gave lip service to the notion that the world is an unpredictable place, most of us had never witnessed this notion turn into fact!
In 2020, pivot became both a buzzword and a necessary action to ensure survival. Just as businesses had to reassess their offering and service delivery, business leaders had to reassess their approach to leadership.
Pre-pandemic, we witnessed a steady shift from hierarchical leadership to a style that embraced collaboration, creativity, and flexibility. Little did we know that these characteristics would become the pillars of leadership in a world irrevocably changed.
Here are five leadership lessons that will determine the foundation of your company’s culture and be critical to your success as a leader.
Embrace Diversity – Truly
In today’s modern world, smart business begins with creating a company culture as diverse as the employees and customers you wish to attract.
Widen the lens through which your company views diversity to ensure that it captures educational background, skills, experience, and personality. Do this, and you will build a company that attracts the very best talent and enjoys the reward of everlasting brand loyalty.
Be Teachable
Gone are the days when we expected leaders to have all the answers. Regardless of age, position or background, a willingness to learn from others implies that you are open to growth.
As a modern leader, you should be comfortable with making mistakes. You should be able to identify the lesson in your error and be unashamed in acknowledging your learning with your team. By doing so, you will build employee confidence, encouraging them to push boundaries, innovate, and seek their own growth.
Prioritise Mental Health
Mental health wears many hats, and as such, people’s mental health needs vary. Your job as a leader is to prioritise, accommodate and address these needs ahead of time.
Whether you facilitate access to therapists, offer schedule flexibility, or work from home days, a company-wide policy attuned to your employees’ mental health needs will build trust and respect that will return on itself time and time again.
Create Opportunities for Professional Growth
The prospect of future gain is hugely motivational. In a work environment, this means access to professional development or upskilling for career advancement. If your employees feel that their future is on your agenda, they are more likely to stick around and dig in!
Providing excellent training and ongoing professional education for employees has multiple compounding benefits. It can help reduce unnecessary stress, create a happier and more productive working environment, and leave you with a highly skilled and supercharged workforce.
Maintain a Growth Mindset While Using Limited Resources
Striking a balance between staying lean and pursuing growth opportunities requires a steady nerve and is now more critical than ever. By adopting growth strategies that ensure your business will survive a sudden downturn, you will safeguard your company’s future and improve its chances of a full recovery should adversity strike.
Be progressive and carve out a leadership style that encompasses all the lessons from above. Remain alert to future needs and respond as they arise.
One thing we can count on is that the state of the world cannot be! Leaders who seek to learn and adapt as they go will thrive. Those who don’t risk losing all they have worked for.