Human Leadership in Times of Transition
Times have changed. Are you ready to change with the times?
The world we once knew no longer exists. Every business, whether big or small, now has an unprecedented opportunity to re-invent itself, re-examine the way it does business, and create a powerful brand that embraces positive change.
Traditional office space is being temporarily, or in some cases permanently, replaced by the home office and the once black and white line between home and work life has become grey and blurry. This open look into the personal lives of co-workers risks leaving many employees feeling exposed and vulnerable. How you, as an employer, manage this shift will have a profound impact on the productivity of your employees and success of your company.
Every successful company must work hard to establish a distinctive culture and set of values that translates positively not just with customers but most importantly with employees. Employees are the backbone of a company, so for a company to be truly successful, personnel must believe in to the culture and vision of senior management. The development of a cohesive culture occurs naturally when company leaders inspire and empower all levels of employees and value them not just as workers but as humans.
If your business is going through a transition of any kind, you will be simultaneously focused on a myriad of important matters. It’s important to not overlook the health of your employees. How are you supporting employee mental health and well being? Benefit and insurance packages are certainly important, but also going above and beyond to ensure that all members of your company are united behind the transition will have a much deeper and lasting effect on company morale and will help ensure your transition is achieved effectively.
Has your management team checked in regularly to see how your business transition is being received among your employees? All humans need to feel heard and understood. They need to feel they are making a difference to the bottom line, and their opinion matters.
Regular face-to-face (or even screen-to-screen) check-ins create a connection that cannot be achieved through generic paper evaluations. Formal evaluations most definitely have merit, but an annual evaluation is no longer enough. A combination of formal and informal check-ins will carry much more weight in demonstrating your desire to foster a cohesive work environment. Never underestimate the value of human connection.
If you are going through a transition, experiencing high employee turnover, or feeling a general lack of support and enthusiasm from your team, it may be time to take an in-depth look at what you can do to motivate and inspire your employees. Not sure where to start? We suggest you take a look at every aspect of your business as it relates to your employees, including working hours, benefits, meeting frequency, office space, social responsibility, vacation time, connectivity, career opportunities, mentoring programs, and stress management.
As Danny Meyer, NYC restaurateur and CEO of the Union Square Hospitality Group says, “Your brand is never better than your employees. And your employees are never better than the degrees to which they are engaged in the reason your company exists.”