5 leadership tips, post COVID-19

5 leadership tips, post COVID-19

Nothing in our lifetime has shaken the way we work more than COVID-19. Business leaders around the world are currently digesting the workplace impacts of the pandemic on their team structures, workplace habits and processes.

Dana Brownlee, Senior contributor at Forbes wrote, “COVID-19 has not just changed the world, but also changed the DNA of our workplace ecosystem in many ways. Our leaders must change as well to lead effectively in this new era. If this pandemic experience has taught us anything, it’s that leadership matters.”

So what can business leaders do to create a sense of team, enhance the wellbeing of team members and collectively deliver tangible results for the business?

Here are 5 top business leadership tips, post COVID-19:

1. Communicate regularly, with reliable, fact-based information

Think about which communication channels you have at your disposal and create a communications plan to keep your team informed. This should help to rebuild your team culture and reduce the levels of workplace anxiety.

Harvard Business Review suggests that “how companies and leaders approach the COVID-19 crisis and treat all their stakeholders — starting with their employees and the whole range of their human needs — will be real “moments that matter.”

Open and honest communication with employees, “contributes to the level of attachment (or not) the employees will have to the company in the future and to the ability of the company to thrive coming out of the crisis.” Hubert Joly of Harvard Business Review said.

2. Be flexible, be adaptable

Working from home, full-time, has been the norm from many employees throughout the pandemic. As restrictions continue to ease and COVID-Safe protocols are rolled-out in workplaces, team members are beginning to return to the office in larger numbers. Business leaders may find that not every member of the team is keen to resume their working week in the same way.

“The implications for the global workforce following the outbreak of COVID-19, demonstrates more than ever the need for employers to be adaptable, fast-moving and open to more flexible and different ways of working,” Selina Keller of Partner, PwC Australia said.

3. Be empathetic

Being an empathetic leader in times of crisis or change is critical.

Forbes contributor, Prudy Gourguechon cited empathy as one of the five core cognitive capacities a leader must have; “effective communication depends on empathy. Without leader empathy, team morale is fragile.”

Some team members may be more impacted than others by the COVID-19 pandemic. There are reputable resources that you can provide for team members who may be experiencing mental health challenges during this time. Heads-Up, have prepared a guide to encourage better mental health in the workplace as a result of COVID-19.

4. Recognise your team

“Employee recognition is not just about making people feel good. It has a significant impact on key business metrics, including engagement, retention, and productivity,” said Kellie Wong of Business 2 Community.

As Harvard Business School Assistant Professor Ashley V. Whillans said, “Cash matters in people’s lives, but it’s not all that matters. What really matters in the workplace is helping employees feel appreciated.”

COVID-19 has created an environment that could be considered as volatile and uncertain; making this an important time for leaders to recognise team members and celebrate successes.

5. Prioritise some face-to-face time

Working from home and utilising video technology, such as Zoom, has been essential during the pandemic, but it has posed wide-spread challenges for some employees and business leaders. For many, there has been little to no delineation between work and home life. Team culture and morale may have also suffered as a result of the lack of genuine, face-to-face interaction.

Value Prop, Business Growth on Purpose, highlighted these 5 benefits of face-to-face communication:

• Easier to convince people
• Creates stronger connections
• Increases non-verbal understanding
• It’s quicker and more effective
• Encourages greater team participation

If one of your leadership tactics is to plan some face-to-face time with your team post COVID-19, consider booking a space at the Flexispace serviced office in Sydney’s Martin Place. State-of-the-art meeting rooms are available with flexible occupancy arrangements. Best practice social distancing and COVID-19 health and safety protocols are in place.