Know about how to lead in a low-confidence environment
There they sat, arms folded, avoiding eye contact.
Lead: You don't have to be an expert in body language or emotional intelligence to know that these people weren't interested in what I had to say.
They had all heard it before. They had seen leaders like me blow over and over again. Much talk, full of new enthusiasm, they encounter deep-seated resistance, bake themselves like moths against an electric light and fade again.
Leaders turn, and the workers remain obliged to keep going.
If you're staring at a leadership challenge like this, you're not alone. Many leaders have entered troubled cultures and aspired to change. Some do, many not.
Here's where to start.
Try to reduce mistrust, not build trust.
It feels counter-intuitive. Shouldn't we strive to build trust? We should strive for that, of course, but we should meet people where they are, not where we want them to be.
An organization with a long history of bad culture and conflict will not greet us with open arms, no matter how wonderful and genuinely ardent we are to make a big difference.
Our first goal is to reduce mistrust. We do this by LISTENING.
From a neuroscience point of view, if a person feels threatened, he will be determined and focused on survival. In workplaces this is reflected in behavior such as jealousy, silos and turf wars.
Our good news and our utopian vision of positive change will reach hostile ears until we give an outlet to that pent-up resentment.
Listening is therefore the order of the day.
Two main triggers are issues of fairness and status. Here's what you can discover with people:
Listening to understand fairness issues
First ask what they think about honesty and why. Do they feel they have been treated fairly? Why or why not?
Ask them what they would prefer.
While they may be very disappointed with the current status quo, you have to ask yourself what opportunity there might be in the situation that they may not have seen before.
Do not close the meeting until you are sure that they have experienced some relief in the conversation.
Listening to understand status issues
Listen one-on-one to each person's concern that their contribution is recognized and appreciated.
Determine which status symbols are important to each person (title, privileges, access, parking space, desk space).
Ask how they think their skills and expertise could best be used.
Help them see where the gaps in their expertise could be and how they could bridge those gaps.
By listening carefully, paying attention to their answers and creating movement through the problems, we push the barrier of distrust down a notch.
It's not all, but it's a good start.
Past time for leaders to DISCOVER alternatives!
Or, if you consider, is someone who could be the leader of any type of organization, including non-profit, for-profit, or the public sector, it's a lot of time, for leaders, to take the time, and do a concerted effort to DISCOVER alternatives outside the box, instead of just accepting the same - old, same - old ways! Many organizations today are under great stress and face challenges, their existence and sustainability. The reality is that many have either disappeared and / or lost much of their previous luster and relevance. We are also witnessing many businesses and companies, of different sizes and types, close their doors forever or are forced to substantially reorganize! Who can deny, our government officials, that they must evolve and improve to meet today's needs, priorities and / or challenges? With that in mind, this article will attempt, using the mnemonic approach, to briefly consider, research, revise, and discuss what this means and represents, and why it matters.
1. Dive deep; Decisive: Rather than simply moving forward with a populist, less than fully considered plan and process, we need individuals who are ready, willing and able to delve deep into true needs, priorities and perceptions, and who are decisive and will work in the best possible way! Think how much better off this nation would likely be during this horrific pandemic if we had leadership that might take into account the bigger picture, real priorities, and planned professionally!
2. integrity; to innovate; ideas; imagination; Informed: Anyone who leads a group, organization or government entity must maintain absolute integrity! He must be knowledgeable, collect all relevant information / factors and have the imagination to see things as they should be, rather than alone, as they are and / or were! We've already seen the danger of electing a president, with a slogan: Make America Great Again! Every leader must have a willingness to innovate effectively and move forward with considered ideas, strategies and actions!
3. System; maintenance; strategy; solutions; Sustainable: Good leadership comes from continuing a strategic system and a service-oriented set of priorities! Measure someone's leadership by the level and quality of their sustainable solutions!
4. Creative: one must think outside the box, using creativity and possibility thinking, if there is an opportunity, to really evolve and make a change for the better!
5. Options; opportunities; open-minded: it is important to consider and evaluate a variety of options and opportunities with an open mind in order to make more sensible decisions in a relevant, sustainable way!
6. Vision: Selecting the right person means fully examining their vital, vibrant vision and strategic and action plans!
7. Empathy; emphasis; Excellence: It takes genuine empathy, and a desire to put emphasis where it will best serve the voters! Whichever course you choose, it is essential: demands, it is done, with the highest degree of excellence!
8. Relevant; reliable; responsible / responsive: it is never enough to go through the motions and be satisfied with the same - old, same - old. Every system, group, company and government entity must be ready, willing and able to continue with an evolving, relevant approach! Leaders are only trustworthy when they act consistently in a responsible, responsive way!
Every leader must consider and DISCOVER alternatives, or is probably unfit to lead! Demand more and better service instead of empty promises and rhetoric!
