8 Lessons I've Learned in a Precedented Year with Unprecedented Leadership Expectations

It's that time of year to reflect on the lessons learned and resolutions for the year to come. This year was not like others. I am hesitant to use the word unprecedented because I think the way we are living is actually relatively normal compared to 2020. What I can say was unprecedented was the onus on leaders to go beyond the previous understanding of what it means to be a leader. 

This past year, I am very fortunate to have been able to work with many different organizations across different industries. From the federal government, municipalities, health professional regulators, and international development, healthcare, child and youth services and settlement and immigration agencies, I've learned some critical lessons about how we are evolving as leaders regardless of the sector. 

1. Remote work didn't break company culture; a lack of great leadership did. 

Whether it's setting clear accountabilities and goals for ways of working, modifying communication tactics, or creating opportunities for meaningful engagements, strong leadership in a virtual world means being intentional and empathetic about each action you take with your team. 

2. When teams are physically apart, leaders need to ensure there's a unified goal that is pulling teams emotionally together. 

As a leader, you need to answer the question on everyone's mind; beyond my paycheck, why am I here? It is a job seeker’s market after all. When you have a clear purpose that everyone is working towards, you will see collaboration across your teams to get the work done. 

3. When building a goal, think big. There is no wow factor in timidity.

We see from the research that gone are the days of working simply to get the job done. Instead, people want work that is exciting, innovative and cutting-edge. Well, that type of work starts with the goal you set for your team. Ask yourself, would the destination and the journey excite you? 

4. Beyond the unified goal, you need to identify and support the unique goals of your team members. 

We hear this word purpose thrown around a lot now, but what does it really mean? For your team, it means that there's no longer a one size fits all career path. It is your job to understand and nurture each team member's individual needs and goals throughout their career journey. 

5. The pandemic keeps throwing curveballs but staying focused on the long game makes sure everyone is set up for success when changes arise. 

And let me be clear, by long game, I don't mean saying "when the pandemic is over" because that's as ambiguous as saying "when the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup." What I mean by this is, what are those critical milestones that are tangible and will show the hard work everyone is doing. Set reasonable and actionable timelines that create excitement throughout the journey and allow for sufficient time to adapt and modify the work without getting too far down the line. 

6. Nothing really gets done well when it is done at the side of someone's desk. Focused and dedicated resources mean quality work and less burnout. 

Resourcing is a hot commodity, and everyone is stretched thin because of it. Don't overextend the go-getters because they've been able to keep up with the additional work thrown their way. But, again, be intentional about the distribution of work, explore different ways to get work done, and ensure that you are not burning out top talent because there's a gap on the team. It's better to think outside of the box than lose talent because of being overworked. 

7. This meeting could have been an email.

You can't say that this has not crossed your mind when you've left a Zoom meeting that cut into your day for no reason. We've all been there, and if we were still having water-cooler chats, we may have been more aware of which meetings were time-suckers vs meaningful because we all would have chatted about it after. Now, it's our job to have this awareness ahead of time, and the best way to do that is to have discipline with how you communicate with your team that ensures that 'face-to-face' meetings are saved for meetings that align with the unified goal (see point 2). That way, the meeting is engaging and valuable for everyone.

8. Leaders are agile.

I can honestly say that never in my career have I seen leaders' willingness to learn and adapt their ways of working to ensure they are creating a positive environment for their teams. This has not been an easy couple of years, and so much has changed, but there's a constant hunger to learn and unlearn skills and habits that will fundamentally change the environment of an organization. What an exciting team if you are up for the challenge. 

This upcoming year will be met with its challenges; I already can see that by its ending. But, I can say that not all the challenges have to be daunting. Leadership is being redefined, and I am excited to continue to help leaders position their teams to be ready for a moonshot in 2022. Together, I want to turn the great reshuffle into the great reinvention, where we turn what it traditionally means to be a leader upside down and build a work environment where employees feel entrepreneurial, authentic and passionate. 

For support with the 2022 great reinvention in your organization, reach out to tonyyu@sensenous.ca.