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Lead Through Crisis
Clients, Company
May 4, 20200

Leading Through Crisis

Leading through a crisis presents its fair share of challenges. Whether you are the leader of an organization, team, or your family, you must adopt a unique set of skills and behaviors to lead effectively. Some of the most common issues that you may experience include operational challenges, unmotivated team members, and supply chain problems.

Approaches and Behaviors to Successfully Lead in Crisis

1. Quick Decision Making

In times of crisis, speed is more important than precision. The situation is unpredictable, and things change by the hour. As a leader, you must always be able to determine what is essential. Even though anxiety and emotions may run high, you should be able to make a decision even with minimal information. Define your priorities and pay attention to them when making decisions.

2. Composure

During a crisis, your team members are likely to be overwhelmed with stress. It is the responsibility of leaders to remain brave and composed. Even though it is normal to be scared, putting on a brave face will encourage your team to stay strong. Maintain a positive and pleasant attitude until the end of the crisis.

3. Accountability

A successful leader must remain accountable in times of crisis. You can demonstrate accountability through your actions – lead by example. Set the pace for leadership and performance excellence. Take responsibility, and encourages your team members to own up to their responsibilities.

4. Empathy

Remain empathetic throughout the process. Even though you should encourage productivity, understand that your employees may be going through a rough time, and listen to them. Develop a mantra encouraging them to do their best regardless of the circumstances.

5. Proper Communication

Communicate with your team members regularly and effectively. Come up with clear communication platforms and use them well. Let your team members know what you know. If you don’t have sufficient information, you may promise to get back to them later. The goal should be to build credibility and maintain constant communication.

6. Resilient

Lastly, you must be resilient. Do this by reframing a negative situation into a positive solution. Be accepting of the change. Nobody likes changes. They can be uncomfortable and unnerving, but you have to allow for the discomfort and do your best to embrace it. Resilient leaders are continuously learning. We are human, which means we’ll not have all the answers. Gaining a new perspective and gaining new understandings are important, and even more critical is being able to apply what you learn during times of change.

Working Remotely
Clients, Company
April 18, 20200

How to Be Effective When Working Remotely During COVID-19

As the concern for COVID-19 continues to grow, many employees have to work from home. Even though remote working is a fairly old concept, it is new for many people. To get through this difficult time, organizations’ leaders must be able to adapt and horn new skills. Some of the most important skills to get your team through this period include empathy, good communication skills, and composure. Working remotely presents unique challenges that require creative solutions. The following tips may help you when working remotely.

1. Replicate the Work Environment

Try to create a formal office at home. Replicating your work environment puts you in work-mode. Arrange your desk and physical media to look like your office at work. Establish a clear workspace. Treat it as a professional zone and avoid using it for any other activities. It is an instinctive way to associate the area with work.

2. Scheduling

Project managers and leaders may have a hard time trying to meet deadlines during the COVID-19 crisis. Without proper scheduling, employees may be unable to perform at maximum efficiency. Set up a clear schedule and stick to it. It keeps your team members on track and reminds them that you are still on target.

3. Don’t Compromise Your Goals

Even when going through a crisis, you should stick to your goal. Members of your team will naturally frighten and often lose their motivation. As a leader, I suggest that you keep reminding them about your objectives and why they are important. Sticking to a clear goal may encourage them to remain productive.

4. Plan Ahead

Do not fall into the trap of seeking short-term solutions. While all team leaders must find short-term solutions for emerging problems, you may want to look at the bigger picture. Anticipate future problems and plan for them. No one knows how long the situation will last so you must be prepared at all times.

5. Create an Accountability Plan

When working remotely, the lines of communication and accountability can get blurry. Create a system for all team members to give you updates on their work progress. You should be able to communicate your expectations with ease. If you don’t already have an accountability plan, I recommend that you create one as soon as possible.

6. Check-In

Check-in with your team members often. Even though it is important to ask about their progress at work, you should also ask about their mental state. Start every workday with a call or chat. Maintain a connection with your employees encourages them to stay in contact.

7. Stay Positive

All team leaders must maintain a positive attitude at all times. They should demonstrate patience and willingness to trust their team members. Even though it is important to push your goal, you must remain positive. Focus on results rather than the number of hours that employees put in.

8. Create a Work-plan

Come up with a work plan that answers any questions that may come up when working remotely. The work-plan should answer the following questions.

  • The responsibilities that employees can perform when working remotely
  • How remote working will impact the operations of employees
  • What are your goals?
  • What communication options are available? Contact all employees and find out how they can communicate.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, and I hope everyone stays safe and healthy. If you have any questions or feedback about remote work, contact us at Agile Tech to find out more.