Malaysia and the world at large seem to be lurching from one crisis to another.
All of us are veterans of a global pandemic now. That crisis dramatically changed some of the ways we conduct our daily lives, and led to economic uncertainty. In our country, it also led political turmoil.
For organisations, while there is no way to avoid global or national adversity, there are ways to help smooth the rough waters and regain a sense of control.
Leading a team through hard times requires resilience, patience, and perseverance. Through my experience over the years of leading my owns teams, and also with helping organisations during tough times, I have some suggestions from managers and leaders:
The current reality
Always start by acknowledging the reality of a situation. This is usually the hardest part for leaders because we always like to think that we can "sort things out." Recognising a predicament is the critical step when you trying to lead an organisation through trying times. As leaders, we must be willing to admit and confront what is out of our control, and look within, for areas where action must be taken.
Accepting a crisis allows you to strategise with clarity as well as create opportunities for positive outcomes even in difficult circumstances. Remember that no matter how difficult or volatile a situation is, admitting the reality from the beginning will help provide a solid footing for working in the direction of improvement.
Take ownership
This is about taking responsibility. It's not about the "blame-game" but instead, it is about being accountable and taking ownership of the situation. Empowering yourself and your team to take ownership of a circumstance means you are not just there for the successes, but you are also responsible for the failures.
As a leader, taking responsibility will allow you to recognise inherent weaknesses in your organisation and your team. It will also show you where your support is needed most. This way, as you lead in a crisis, you can make sure that things stay afloat and operations remain well-oiled. Remind yourself that while times might be hard, your business must still sustain.
Get your priorities aligned
Once you understand the situation, you will need to establish clear priorities for your team. This is all about what needs to be accomplished, and how it can be done. Set goals and break them down into achievable chunks. This ensures that your team remains focused on what matters most.
Get everyone organised. To-do lists, itemising tasks in order of importance, creating efficient systems, and monitoring effectively to make sure deadlines are met will keeping things ticking over slickly.
You must be able to explain clearly why certain tasks are more important than others, and how they will fit into achieving the team's overall goals. This will keep everyone together and keep morale up in difficult times.
Be agile
Some leaders have a hard time accepting things must change. However, to face a hard time you must be ready and comfortable with disruption and trial-and-error, and then model that behavior for others. Agility and moving away from the "usual" manner of doing things is vital. This requires an open-minded mentality and a willingness to adopt new strategies. If you have a sense of ownership of the problem within your organisation or business unit, you will naturally be open to new ideas. At the end of the day, solution orientation requires agility of the mind.
Be open with your team
A pre-requisite for maturity in a team, is that everyone needs to know where the business stands. Even if you do not want to alarm your team, or have them lose faith in you, this is a hard practice you must adopt. Tell your team what the problems are. Emotionally and mentally, it also helps you. No one likes to be alone.
Clearly and unambiguously describe the reasons behind a crisis. Then identify the team's strengths and inspire them by your faith in their ability. Working together is the only way to claw out of a messy situation, and being straightforward fortifies your team to face challenges.
Make hard decisions but stay optimistic
Realise that you will have to make hard decisions like re-structing or even reducing your headcount. If it needs to be done, you must do it. But, remain grounded. Keep your head up, look for the positives, and remain focused on what is possible.
While this sounds easier said than done, to give yourself a fighting chance of surmounting a crisis, you really must stay optimistic about the future. Recognise individual efforts, reward dedication and perseverance, and most of all, always continue with laughter even in difficult times.
Remain organised, cultivate a sense of "community" in your team, and lead with resilience. I reckon this is the best way to lead in tough times.
*The writer is managing consultant and executive leadership coach at EQTD Consulting. He is also the author of the national bestseller 'So, You Want To Get Promoted