Leading through hard times

My company is going through a restructuring and people will lose jobs.  How do I keep my team motivated?

Everything put together falls apart. Trouble is always around the corner.  Today it’s a restructuring.  Tomorrow it will be something else.  For better or worse, this is normal.

When the challenge du jour comes knocking, you have many roles to play as a leader.   

In this blog, I focus on your immediate response after a storm hits, addressing related topics in subsequent blogs. 

They’re watching you

Years ago, I was on a plane hit by lightning.  There was a flash.  A boom.  A veering to the right.  An instant of unearthly quiet followed by gasps.  Screams.  I looked forward and saw a steward, his seat facing the passengers, mouth agape (think Edvard Munch, think The Scream) buggy eyed: panic made flesh.  The professional was flipping out.  “This must be bad,” thought I . . . .  

Your initial response to troubled waters is important as the team will take their cue from you. If you’re flipping out, they’re flipping out to the 3rd power.  

Leadership Nugget:  Nothing good comes from flipping out

So, time for a deep breath. Be a pro. Gather information. Make plans. You may be worried about your own future.  Fair enough, but it doesn't matter.  You can’t help your team if you’re playing the part of the buggy-eyed steward. 

You have a different role to play. Some thoughts:

• Be present. Listen. Be empathetic. Be honest.

• Be visible and walk the floor (actual or virtual).

• Talk to people.  Find out where their heads are.  

• Look after players you cannot afford to lose.  If you don’t know who they are, give me 50 pushups and go find out.

• Communicate what you can about the change and the “why” of it: give context.

• Communicate when you can, the impact of the change for individual team members.  

• Don’t overpromise. To give comfort, you may want to say, “it’s all going to be ok”.  This is weak and you don’t know it to be true, so don’t say it.  You cannot walk it back.

What comes after the storm?

Big Time Leaders recognize challenges come and go.  They don’t wallow (no wallowing!!) or fall apart because a particular thing has happened.  Instead they cope. They pull the team up and forward.  

They also elevate, creating a future vision for the team: “Yes, we’ve had this or that trouble hit us.  But we’re still standing and let me tell you where we’re going together next!”  

By creating a vision of a future the team can get behind, you prepare them for opportunities and challenges yet unknown.  Nicely done:  you’re on your way to being a Big Time Leader.

If you wonder whether coaching can help you overcome a professional challenge, Let’s Talk.  Please feel free to schedule a Discovery Session with me by clicking on the attached link. 

Until next time.

Be well everybody