By Mary Ann Tucker
As you all know, great leadership is a passion for me. This passion is what propelled me into coaching, first to improve my own skills as a leader and now as a Leadership Coach to assist others in being the best leader they can be.
After watching a CBC feature story on the changing landscape of work environments, I found myself increasingly frustrated and disappointed. Understanding that only a few companies were interviewed for this story, I know that one cannot generalize that this behaviour is happening in all workplaces. However, the interviewees described the lengths that Leaders are taking within their organizations to ensure that their employees are following the rules and being productive. New positions in one company called “Change Champions” have the role of monitoring the compliance of employees to the COVID rules and are charged with reporting offenders to management. Another company talked about creating software that would track all activities of employees while they are working online at home.
What is happening to TRUST? In crisis, change and recovery, trust is essential. Leaders need the ability to create an environment of trust, where employees feel valued and inspired to be productive, creative and innovative, while still being safe. In a fear-based, control-driven environment, employees will not thrive.
Leaders, more than ever, need to be agile during COVID-19. Leaders are feeling the pressure to be diligent in keeping their work environments and their employees safe, yet must balance this with due diligence with inspiring vision, relationship-centred leadership, collaboration, accountability and productivity. No small task indeed.
Leadership Agility is an essential skill for leading people and organizations during this period of COVID-19. Leaders cannot fall into the trap of fear-based leadership, using power and control that undermine trust. Agile leaders are self-aware and adaptable, exhibiting the character traits and skills required to lean into the many changing demands and contexts of leadership.
Leadership Coaching is a powerful tool for today’s changing environment. We would welcome the chance to discuss the challenges and opportunities you are facing as a leader and how The Coaching Lens can assist you in enhancing your leadership agility.
Email us at [email protected] to learn more about our online group coaching and online workshops for building trust and agility in leadership.
