It’s time to lead…
3 Tips For Leading A Team Out Of Lockdown
You have navigated so many changes throughout the pandemic - the way you work, the way you lead your team via zoom calls and teams meetings and the drama of furlough. And now, it’s time to go through the next change - back to working at the office.
There will be a host of different emotions, circumstance and obstacles to negotiate in the coming months. So, here are three ways to manage your expectations, your team energy as they return to work, and looking after yourself throughout it all.
1. BE PREPARED - NOT EVERYONE WILL BE HAPPY TO BE BACK
I know you want to welcome everyone back with open arms and be one big happy team however be prepared for the reality to be very different. It’s important to note that you cannot assume that anyone is ok and/or will be happy to be back. Yes, that does also mean the person who has managed to stay on top of tasks and is flat out with work whilst smiling and saying all the right thing - always check in on everyone. Take the time to personally speak to your team individually and build a connection of trust. Your team will always remember how you made them feel when they were navigating working life again. Be on the positive side of that memory.
2. LAY OFF THE DEMANDS
I know you need to hit your management quotas, targets and deadlines however it is imperative to reduce the stress of your team and lower the demands, quotas, targets and deadlines - especially in the first week whilst they are settling back into working life again.
Change is unsettling for us humans and as we are creatures of habit, it is wise to allow buffer time until working in the office feels comfortable again. And, I’m sure you know the team members who use work as a coping mechanism - be mindful to give them enough to get by but not so much that they burn themselves out.
You can apply the pressure when your team are back in the driving seat. And, it’s good to note that you will always be able to make more money but you will never be able to reduce the stress of your team - who are navigating the start of post-lockdown work - whilst you are applying the accelerator. Be kind.
3. MANAGING THE COLLECTIVE ENERGY
Allow your team to take the lead and settle on a collective mood and energy. After observing, you can gently start to model a lighter and happier state of mind, behaviour and attitude around them that will seep into the collective and raise the standards for a happier working environment. Take it slow and use your emotional intelligence to navigate what is best for your team. Remember although you are leading, you will be going through your own adjustments too. Take short breaks throughout the day to check in with how you are feeling and what you are thinking. This will be having a bigger impact on you than you think and some self-care throughout the day will allow you to be more effective as a leader.
EXAMPLE: MARTIN TEAM MEETING AT 9 AM
Martin is planning to start the first day back with a team meeting at 9 am to unify everyone and get everyone on the same page. The team arrive with the collective energy of 2/10.
Martin starts the meeting with an 8/10 energy to ‘boost morale and be the example’. But he hasn’t ‘read the room’ and his energy is out of balance with the collective.
Martin has prepared a short introduction so he doesn’t get tongue-tied and say the wrong thing - “it’s like walking on eggshells at the moment.” He is eager to make his team feel better so they can get back to hitting those targets as soon as possible.
However, his speech touches a nerve and one of the team members starts to cry. Martin apologises and quickly continues with the meeting. He directs the team towards the flipchart with clear objectives and goals that they need to achieve for this quarter and ends the meeting.
The team leave bewildered by what just happened and whilst they are clear on their objectives and respect Martin as their leader, they are feeling unheard and the collective energy is now at 1/10.
Martin has left no space for the team to express themselves, no room for vulnerability and human emotion in what might be a very stressful and emotional day for some.
Keep reading to hear what I would suggest instead...
MY SUGGESTION: USING THE ENERGY TO LEAD THE TEAM
Moving the meeting to Midday will give everyone the chance to settle in and find safety and certainty at their desk whilst catching up with their colleague’s in-person.
Allow the morning dust to settle and then observe the collective energy. Personally check in on your team individually and allow emotions, thoughts and experiences to lead the conversations.
At midday, start the meeting by mirroring the collective energy of the team and meet them where they are at. If they are at a 4/10 collectively, then start the meeting at 4/10 too.
During the course of the meeting, you can start increasing your energy by one or two points to lift their energy levels.
Keep the meeting brief, to the point and without too many demands and targets. Allow time for others to express themselves if needed and above all else keep it positive.
From this point, you now have an understanding of how your team are individually and collectively responding to their first day back.
In the coming days and weeks, you can add more energy and increase the expectations of your team whilst carefully monitoring for overwhelm and burnout.
Be gentle, be kind, listen more than talk, manage your expectations of what ‘should’ happen and allow vulnerability to lead the way.
Comment below on what has worked for you and how you have been successfully leading your team and/or company after lockdown.
I would love to hear your take on this,
Michelle
KEEP READING: End Of Lockdown Series By Michelle Thole:
Part 2: For the super excited and ready to party
Part 3: For the super nervous and anxious about change
Part 4: For the blah and languishing
