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Tips for when you and your team face times of uncertainty together

During a recent LeaderSpeak Masterclass, I was asked for leadership tips to help whilst the business was in limbo awaiting the announcement of significant organisational changes.  Here are 3 tips we discussed.  Share with us your experiences, we would love to hear from you, email margo@margohalbert.com.au.

Tip 1: Communicate often, even if there is no new news.  If there is a vacuum of leadership communication, the rumour mill starts!  Remember your communication style needs to be Credible Cat / Pilot.  The team are in your plane, you are the pilot and they are experiencing strong turbulence.  Keep your manner, controlled and confident and statements short and concise.  The main thing is keep the updates going, it gives reassurance.

Tip 2: Remember the Emotional Cycle of Change. If you or your team are stuck in the “Valley of Despair” (checking out), a key way to move out is to keep focused on your goal, your ‘why”.  Remember the “why” for people in your team can be very different from your own “why”.  Help your team to remember their personal ‘why’ or ‘goal’.  To learn more at the Emotional Cycle of Change here is a good write up https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/kelley-conner-cycle.htm or you might revisit the Simon Sinek You Tube “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” or read Viktor Frankl “Man’s Search for Meaning”.

Tip 3: Be vulnerable and share times of uncertainty in your life and how you learnt and grew from it. Often it’s only F.E.A.R! Don’t do your therapy in front of them, remember you are the pilot!   We discussed the JOHARI Window as a useful tool about self awareness and the You Tube video Brene Brown’s “The Power of Vulnerability”.