In the midst of tough times, leaders need their teams to step up, so they may feel disappointed, frustrated or irritated when their team is exhausted. However, consider how challenging this time is for your team members. As a leader, you sit “in front of the bus” and have greater purview over what’s going on. Team members likely feel you have greater control than they do. The more “in control” we feel, the better we can stay in the “frontal lobe” of solution focus; the less in control we feel, the more we can get triggered in a fight-or-flight response. Your team members may be experiencing greater stress and exhaustion because of their perceived lack of control.
It’s important to practice compassion, empathy and understanding. Let your team know you are all in this together. Take more time during one-on-one meetings to ask how they are doing, not just professionally but personally. Showing you care helps shift them from their “panic” mode and enables you to explore solutions together that will provide health and support.
It’s certainly been a challenging year through which to navigate. As leaders, we want to lead well. Be humble, open and OK with the unknown. Utilize your team. Listen to their thoughts and ideas. Design accountability to ensure your team has the support they need to succeed. Embrace tough conversations to quickly address and move past points of friction. Keep yourself grounded and healthy. Collaborate with those around you. Solutions will appear so you can move forward with confidence.