November 23, 2020
Our World Has Changed. And So Has The Way We Work.
It's hard to believe how much has changed in one year. For many of us it’s been a paradigm shift in how we work, how we live and how we spend our time. How do you adapt your leadership to this new reality? The best way you know how. The thing is that we haven’t had to do this before so our our “know how” might need refreshing. It might even need a full overhaul. What skills help you lead through a pandemic and address pressing social justice issues? First step is self-awareness. To quote Brené Brown, my favourite researcher and storyteller, “So much shitty leadership happens outside of our self awareness.” Now is a perfect time to invest in your development, to understand your motivators, discover unconscious behaviour patterns and expand your emotional literacy. Self-awareness is a journey, not a destination. No matter who you are, there is opportunity for growth, especially in this demanding environment. Second step is acknowledgement that everyone is a leader. Will you accept the call? Titles are irrelevant but behaviours will define you. Leaders use curiosity to uncover facts instead of judging and telling. They connect with others and share in the humanity and they create spaces of belonging instead of expecting people to simply fit in. Cultivate these skills in yourself and in the people around you. Finally, take self-care seriously. Our intense focus on productivity has grinded our batteries to dismal levels and COVID has pushed us beyond empty. You can't expect high-level performance when you don't have…