Meaningful Advice To Get The Most Out Of Your Team In Chaotic Times

In short

Rob Lancit defines chaotic times as any period of uncertainty, rapid change or instability, and says many people would agree that describes the present. External shocks such as downturns, political instability and natural disasters arrive alongside internal ones: restructuring, missed KPIs and changes in leadership.

His argument is that leadership decides how a team comes through, and that respect has to be given before authority can be exercised. He offers four pieces of advice. Be firm and resolute, which sometimes includes showing vulnerability, and communicate with clear, frequent, transparent updates and an open door that is actually used. Set the example by staying calm. He compares a leader who panics to an officer shouting to his troops that all is lost, and points to Audie Murphy, the most decorated combat soldier of World War II and a small man, as evidence that presence is not size. Plan before the crisis: involve the team in scenario planning, let others contribute to the solution, prioritize and stay flexible.

Last, avoid the pitfalls: putting private worry on display, micromanaging, dismissing feedback, and overpromising when it is unclear what can be delivered. Each of those erodes the trust a leader has built.

Summary by the editors of this site. The original is Rob’s own writing; read the original at the source.