White chat bubble on blue background. Number seven writes on chat bubble. Horizontal composition ... [+]
While you’re playing the long game when it comes to improving your leadership, sometimes you need quick, timely reminders of essential truths. Below are seven bite-sized pieces of wisdom; pick which one resonates and begin incorporating it into your leadership practice this week.
View your work in seasons
Giving your work one hundred percent of your effort and time—all the time—is not feasible. You will burn out. Try this shift: think of your work life in seasons or quarters. For example, if you’re starting a new role, you may be daunted by the road ahead. Rather than think of “giving your all” for the next several years, think of giving your maximum effort for the first three months. In the next quarter, recalibrate; see what worked, where you can double down, pull back, and delegate. If you plan your work season, you’ll be able to accomplish more, and more sustainably.
Listen more than you talk
Leaders are expected to always have a point of view to share. You may feel the pressure to speak up in every meeting. While you need to lead the conversation, this doesn’t mean you have to be the one doing all the talking. There is power in a leader sitting back and listening. Allow your team to share their insights and be open to learning. This is especially necessary when you’re starting a new role. Assume that your team knows more than you do and allow them to share.
Ask “How can I help?”
If you’re only ever pointing out the negative to your manager, you’ll gain a reputation as a naysayer. Commit to asking this question after bringing up issues with your manager: “How can I help?" The question will open up your thinking to broader perspectives. Before bringing this question to your manager, ask it of yourself. You’ll cue yourself up for a productive conversation. For example: “One of the areas that I am seeing an issue with is the new dashboard. How can I help?” Don’t just point out issues; offer to help and fix them.
Communicate your thoughts and feelings
As a leader, you speak all day. You may think that because you’re highly visible, your teams always know what you’re thinking and talking about—but they don’t. They are looking to you for guidance and feedback; if they don’t receive it, they will make up a story about how things are going. You must name what you’re thinking and/or feeling.
For example, if there's a stressful situation, you may appear calm outwardly. This may baffle your team. You could share something like: “I know that this situation is serious, and I am very committed to helping make this work situation right. It might look like I don't care, but I believe calmness helps to get to a creative solution." Clue your team into your state of mind. Name what is happening so that you can reduce your team’s stress.
Go to lunch or the event
After a long day, you’re probably tired and may want to go home. But it’s essential to put in “off the clock” time building relationships with your teams. Even just going out to lunch can be a key relationship-building activity. (It doesn't have to be a long lunch! You can get sandwiches and return to the office.) Or, after work, stop by the bar close to work and have a beer. Work friendships were lost through the pandemic; now is the time to rebuild. Not only will your relationships with your teams improve when you relationship-build; you’ll also have more fun at work. And when interpersonal conflicts arise, you’ll be able to navigate them with more genuine goodwill.
Laugh
Remember—work doesn't have to be so serious all the time! Just laugh. Allow for fun. It's okay to go off task for a bit and embrace opportunities to expand the relationships on your team.
Go to the office
While it may be easier to work from home and you may love your zero-commute time, try going into the office more. In-person meetings can allow for more effective brainstorming. Work issues get solved more quickly because you don't need to interpret issues over a video call. Also, you may discover that some communications you’d construed as “problems” (as interpreted over Slack or email) don’t even exist. We gain so much by being in the presence of one another; make an effort to go into the office more.
May these quick reminders serve you as you play the long game of building a leadership strategy. Start where you are; try one this week, then another next week, and so on. Small actions compound and create the net effect of better leadership.
