As leaders and entrepreneurs, we decide how we move forward in our business. A leader needs to be open to exploring possibilities and using tools to gather data and support their next move.
With the sheer volume of information and noise on the internet we can easily be led to confusion and stagnation. Yet to get ahead leaders need to rise above this chaos and seize opportunities that align with their vision and goals. Here are some strategies to help navigate this conundrum:
⏩ Mindset and self-care.
In your team the stress comes from the way YOU respond. It starts with YOU.
You have the capacity to change, to adjust the way you speak, you think, you react.
Start holding quick and frequent check-ins or 1:1s with your team. It builds trust and allows honest, and open dialogue.
- Start looking at the good in situations – share the good with others
- If feeling negative and consider how you want to feel instead. Feel into that and it will be.
- If you don’t know the answer, be honest. Say it. then find out.
- Show up as the best possible version of yourself so that you can be equipped to deal with whatever if presented to you
- Create calm, and stop and listen. Use your breath to really help you ground and find the answers.
- Protect yourself and your own well-being
⏩ Create transparency.
When some is transparent they take 100% responsibility for everything that was happening around them; sharing the good and the bad in a meaningful way. They welcome feedback from team members. A leader needs to lead by example. They are real. Communicate what you are doing. There should be no unpleasant surprises, no concerns around uncertainty, and no questionable behaviour that may weaken the bond. Be open and honest with your team, your colleagues. Seek answers from the team knowing that you don’t have all the answers. It creates trust which is fundamental to business success.
⏩ Create a sense of purpose
Your purpose needs to be clear and communicated to your team. Your purpose is the burning in fire in your belly. The reason you started your business, and became a leader. With this comes the values that you want to be known for – the quality the character and associations that others have towards you. Tell your story to others, it builds connection and trust.
⏩ Consider your customers.
Acknowledge and reflect the current climate and ask your customers what it is they are seeking from you now. When you understand where they are at, you can meet their needs. All your communication needs to reflect this. It needs to feel contextually relevant. What once was, may not the need right now. Your customers have some gold to share with you on your business direction.
⏩ Create a conscious culture
Culture is the fabric of your business, each of your team is a unique thread in that culture. By engaging employees at a deeper level you can increase retention, improve performance and inspire others. Your culture positions your business for sustained success. Your culture will come from leading with the heart and the head, and having the utmost integrity. This brings a sense of transparency. Be a leader who creates the best outcomes by inspiring your team to come forward with solutions.
Every leader who invests in themselves will ensure that they remain an effective leader. A leader must know that the world is moving forward with several changes all the time. Investing in yourself as a leader is not just about personal growth; it’s about empowering your team to thrive in a constantly evolving world.
When you recognise this, and take decisive steps to consciously improve your team will win.
