If you are a leader and are returning to a business today I wanted to say…Congratulations!  You have something to return to, don’t discount how meaningful that is.  The business you temporarily vacated may not perfectly resemble the one you arrive back at but that is a natural consequence of intentionally putting an economy into an induced coma.  But you may feel lost, uncertain and out of your depth.  If that is you this may be your most valuable read this year. 

Everyone is talking about what has changed and what change is still to come. Certainly pertinent topics of conversation but if you allow this to consume you upon return it may be a bit too early.  The things that dominate your thoughts will dominate your behaviour.  If you are only seeing your future disappear and think repetitively of impending doom this may be a self-fulfilling prophecy.  What I say next may surprise you.  If your point of departure is casting vision for a new, new tomorrow full of exciting opportunity it is premature and will be ineffective.  Let me give you the rationale behind this thinking.

The simplest definition of commercial success is to achieve the objectives that the business has set. If you are working with, or leading, people you want them energized, mobilized and ready to do the things that will move you toward your objectives.  To quote my friend and strategic partner, Luan Koen, you want “staying power and growing power.”  If that is the outcome then there is a step that needs to be taken before you go there.  The people you lead have also had their world turned upside down and they are also feeling uncertain about the future.  When people are feeling unsafe and uncertain, they are frozen and ineffective. Your team will not be receptive to any message or direction unless you first create a degree of psychological safetyfor them. How do you do that?

Gather everyone together and jointly start to document what has not changed.  Be slow to talk, invite your team to do most of the talking.  Give them space to search their brains to access information. Your job is to fill in the gaps.  Then ask this question “What attributes and strengths did we possess as an organization that got us to where we are?”  Again, let your team do most of the thinking and talking. What they say may very well give you a different perspective about the strengths of the business.  Do these strengths and attributes still exist?  If they do, document them.  Subconsciously you have already settled your people down and they are feeling stronger and more resilient because they have certainty around important questions in a very uncertain external environment. You have reintroduced them to what they were familiar with and have started to build trust which is the foundation for success. The outcome is that they are now receptive to your messaging and will absorb direction.  You have dealt with their irrational fear and have unfrozen them so they are ready for action.  So now what?  What do we do next?  The second Step harnesses the power of forward momentum and will be the catalyst for rejuvenation and success. Do you like what you have read?  Then read on….

With IDthree you are not out there alone, you have a partner with a detailed history of success and experience and a unique way of thinking. If the snippet above has been valuable please set up a free consult today.  We want to understand you, get business context and navigate with you through “staying power” so you may move onto “growing power.”  We engage with you to the extent that you feel is necessary and help you unlock the potential you never dreamed you had.  Contact me directly.