12 Oct

Inspiring Leaders Post-COVID

At the time I am writing this article, we are entering month 19 of the Covid-19 pandemic. By now, we have become accustomed to wearing masks if required, socially distancing, and if you are in the hospitality industry, doing more with less. I unaffectionately refer to current events as the tsunami of the Covid-19 storm. If sheltering in place for months, not being able to see family and friends, and a personal health crisis was not enough, now we face a labor crisis, supply chain issues and the price of everything has increased. $40.00 for a pound of crabmeat! Holy cow!!! Oh yes, we are still holding on to our resilience, our hospitality strong, and professing our #wegotthis attitude. Really? Will it ever end? I can’t guarantee we will not see any additional Covid-19 aftermath, but I can promise you this: you will NEVER forget the team you worked with and survived this worldwide pandemic with. I still remember the people and details of the conversations I had with people I worked with in DC during and after 9/11. I will never forget them. Leadership is about vision and responsibility, not power. Seth Berkley If you are someone that leads leaders, hopefully you have had your sensitivity and intuition dialed up to the optimum level. If not, shame on you! YOU have some catching up to do. Do not pass go… do not collect $200… go directly to a wellness check of everyone on your team. Hopefully you have been tuned in and you are aware that almost everyone on your team has suffered at least one if not all the following challenges these last 18 months:
  • Covid fatigue
  • Depression
  • Loss of a family member
  • Health issues
  • Financial concerns
They have become caretakers for elderly family member, teachers to their children and grandchildren, all while dealing with this new normal of working from home. Fair to say it hasn’t been easy for anyone. I have 2 favorite mantras….
  1. The speed of the pack is determined by the leader.
  2. You are only as strong as your weakest link.

Following are 7 leadership practices I strive to bring to my day, every day:

  1. Inspiration
  2. Kindness
  3. Intuition
  4. Confidence
  5. A Positive Attitude
  6. Flexibility
  7. Appreciation

Inspiration requires making sure you have addressed your own needs, mind, body, and spirit. I love to use the example of the oxygen mask on a plane. You must place the mask on yourself before you can help someone else. Once you have addressed your own needs, use personal examples of survival, positive affirmations, and compassion to lead the leaders that report to you. Don’t be afraid to get personal in communication with team members to fully understand the challenges they are facing and how you can be part of their solution.

Kindness is an absolute must. Everyone is running high on emotion and sensitivity after everything they have come through. Kindness is not a sign of weakness as a leader; it is a required attribute. Be nice!

Intuition is one of the most important qualities of a leader today. We are a society that has been told to leave our personal problems out of the workplace. Often, your team members are not going to volunteer the problems and issues they are facing personally or professionally. You must be tuned in to recognize their fatigue, frustration, depression, need for help or whatever is challenging them in that moment. Once you know the problem, you can then be part of the solution.

Confidence is one of the best examples a leader can project. The longer I am in a position of leadership, the more I realize the influence I have on others, in what I say and in what I do. Therefore, I need to be very confident my words and actions will leave my team members in a better place than I found them at the beginning of our encounter. Think of the people you admire and have influenced your life or career. I am positive they were not weak, falling apart and unable to make a decision. Of course not! They were someone that had grace under pressure, solved problems and exhibited strength.

A positive attitude will ensure you get the most out of your team despite what they are facing in their day. In every conversation, tune into the tone and the words they are using. Really listen with full attention and you will be able to pick up on the negatives and turn them into positives. Nix the drama in the conversation to determine the solution. Quite often too much time is spent talking about the problem rather than finding a solution.

Be flexible. Post Covid we have all reevaluated our priorities. So many things we took for granted are now important, like going to your grandson’s soccer came, going to a yoga class or visiting family and friends. Allow flexibility with schedules for personal appointments, family commitments and wellness. It is an investment in your team that will come back many times over.

Appreciate and celebrate the successes and accomplishments of the people you lead. This is not an option. One of the first things your parents taught you is to say, “thank you”. Gratitude for others comes back to you in abundance. A team that is appreciated and recognized is working hard to make you shine every day.

Never forget, to whom much is given much is required. Every day you are making an impression on someone. Always strive to be the best person you can be and never take for granted the people who make you successful every day.

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