One challenge facing almost every leader right now is the pressure that comes with your team looking for you to lead from the front. Regardless of your usual style and skills, it is a prerequisite that you put your best foot forward in these uncharted times.
So, what should good leadership look like in today’s environment and what do employees want from their managers?
Ultimately, there is a consistent desire for open and honest communication. We work closely with a large contractor workforce here at Concentis and their feedback reflects what we are seeing across the Mining, Energy and Infrastructure industries. Most Project Managers, Engineers, Project Controllers and Construction Managers want to see four key things from their leaders in the company they work for.
- A calm approach
- A positive attitude
- Honest communication
- Compassion
These qualities are always required but are particularly relevant now. While you may be feeling unease or apprehension yourself, your focus must remain on making sure your team feels safe and supported. Employees want to be able to talk openly with their managers in a constructive way to understand what their future may look like as this situation evolves. Even if leaders do not have all of the answers, being able to say this openly will help foster a sense of trust amongst staff. They want to know their leaders have their back and are listening.
Those businesses and leaders who show up each day with an open and honest approach will be well-positioned to retain employee loyalty and have a workforce that is best placed to respond when normal operations resume.
Here are three practical things every good leader can do right now to help support their team and lead from the front.
- Adopt an open door policy: While you may not have the answer to every question, be willing to have a discussion and openly engage in conversation. Simply talking through different scenarios and outcomes can be enough to help people feel more in control of their own situation.
- Be transparent: Share as much information as you can and communicate regularly. Even if nothing has changed, share that. The opposite approach – saying nothing – creates uncertainty. Transparent and constant communication also prevents second guessing and rumours spreading across the business, which demotivates staff and can destabilise your workforce.
- Pay attention to the human element: Remember these strange times are having a direct impact on the human beings running your business, divisions and projects. Separate the human from the job. Check-in and pay attention to who may be vulnerable. Check they have the necessary support networks in place so you can be confident they are not at risk, physically and mentally.
Providing your workforce with as much clarity as you can will serve your business well in these strange times. Good leadership doesn’t mean having all of the answers right now. It means opening up, communicating regularly and showing compassion on a human-to-human level.
