Climbing with your team through the pandemic

​As leaders, we often see how things should be and strive to make it a reality. A vision is necessary. As are having a compass, “must haves” and BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals). All are fundamental to providing us structure and space to innovate and accomplish cool things.
 
Now to 2020. Your team is working remotely while homeschooling their children during the pandemic. Or other countless scenarios of the norm of the day. Overwhelm and disruptions on a daily basis could be weighing them down. Others could be just fine with working from home and are isolating nicely. The possibility is that in an attempt to inspire your team to greater heights, you may not be meeting them where they are. Imagine being on a mountain-climbing expedition, and your guide, in his exuberance, is already a mile ahead of you on the climb while you’re still at basecamp packing your backpack. You might feel a bit frustrated, perhaps even angry and bitter, for signing up for this trip. 
 
One way to find out if you and your team are in sync is to get to know them. Some humility and transparency are helpful when you are trying to motivate the hearts and minds of others. If you are not sure how to meet folks where they are because you have a lot on your plate and deadlines looming,  consider these ideas about how you might slow down and allow your team to catch up:
 

• One-on-One’s without an Agenda. Remember it’s not all about your agenda. And it’s not about your assumptions about who you think people should be. It starts with getting to know who they are right here and right now. Start with making time to have an intentional conversation. I’m sure you’ve met that leader that does a rapid check-in with “Hey, how are you doing? Yea, me too! Busy, busy…catch up soon!” It feels pretty disingenuous when leaders do not make time to connect, consistently cancel/delay one-on-one meetings, or show up late for meetings with their subordinates. We can’t pass each other in the hallway right now, so schedule time to do that virtually. It’s worth it even for a 15 minute catch up to spend uninterrupted time with your team members on the topics they want to discuss.
• Plan for Time to Learn and Develop. Schedule time on your calendar daily to slow down and think. This is important for both you and your team. Be curious and ask questions, rather than making assumptions and acting only from your gut. Gather facts (not the same as opinions). Dig deep and do your due diligence, even if it takes some time. Operating from facts rather than opinions and emotions can help you make better decisions and reduce team drama.
• Show Your Gratitude. Adding a message of sincere gratitude for your team and also empathy and understanding is good practice as well. Understand that not everyone will be coming out of the other side of this pandemic without pain and grief. Show gratitude for the many people along the way who have shared their stories and vulnerabilities and for life constantly being a teacher. 
• Know the Difference Between Support and Co-Dependence. You can support, develop and hold people accountable for their work without removing responsibility. You may be able to do a task better and faster, but that doesn’t teach anyone else to master a new skill. You can become a barrier to attaining your own vision by not sharing responsibility. Your team members are capable. Give them the opportunity to step up to the challenge one step at a time.
• Ask for Feedback.  Now is a good time to learn from your team about what they need from you in order to succeed in this constantly shifting environment. Nothing like a pandemic to create an opportunity to learn how to do things differently, with agility and humility.  You are not alone and your team can help you uncover what’s most important right now for your leadership.

 
Once you meet your team where they are, it will be easier for them to follow your lead. They will respond better to a challenge that stretches them and moves them toward your vision in a way that allows them to be with you, rather than a team that never leaves basecamp.