The ability to adapt is a necessity for those in management, especially right now. However, managers, leaders, and business owners do not only need this vital skill during and following a pandemic. They must also be able to respond to change, adversity, and challenges. Moreover, they should be able to adapt with grace. How is this best accomplished?
Several factors play into maximum adaptability. Certainly, in the past year, many of those in the business world have had to learn how to deal with facing rapid shifts in the momentum of their business. Here are a few things to consider when moving a business forward through turbulent times:
1. Transparency – Many in management found it behooved them to be as transparent as possible during times of uncertainty in a business. Informing their staff and fellow leaders of changes as soon as possible and acknowledging difficult situations is key in ensuring the continued prosperous nature of the business. Consider a situation when you have been in times of crisis within a business. Has it been advantageous to know exactly how things looked from the very beginning or to find out with a severance package? Good leaders need to be open and honest.
2. Respect Time at Every Level – One thing that COVID-19 taught those in leadership is that there is no time to waste when it comes to implementing a plan inside the office. Many businesses decided to go remote when it appeared to be getting more serious in terms of the virus. Most of these decisions were made within a couple of days of discovering the magnitude of what they were facing. Leaders who can adapt and do so quickly are better able to solve future problems when they arise.
3. Be Able to Shift When Necessary – Surprise comes easily in the business world, so excellent managers must be able to move when necessary. They need to be able to rethink a solution if it does not work. Expectations can wreak havoc on a plan, however, being able to shift is necessary for maximum adaptive leadership. No solution in business is one size fits all and you will find out what works for your office as you go. To ensure maximum adaptability, be able to admit when something is not working and find a new plan.
4. Communication – Working through the past year has certainly raised the bar around the relevance and need for open, effective two-way communication in the workplace at new levels. Employees have developed and now in many cases insist upon communication as critical to culture, performance, and retention… and that expectation carries directly to the bottom line.
Being an excellent leader does not mean you are the person who does not make any mistakes. It does not mean your business never experiences struggles. Versatility, transparency, and honesty are paramount to success in leadership. Make sure you are prepared for everything and anything and when you find you are not, be able to adapt and move forward. Get used to it, it may be a bumpy ride as leaders and employees adapt to changing expectations.
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