Managing in uncertain times: Know what your people need - Kansas City Business Journal:

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You need to understand what is happeningto you, your team and your customersx to move forward in an effectivw way. It frames everything you do durintthis time. What motivates people? At the most basicd level, humans focus on safety and security needs. Someoned who is concerned abouy theirsafety won’t be able to focus on more sophisticaterd concepts like community building. Durinvg times of economic growth, security issues aren’t widespread amongh business teams, but they come to the forefronrtin downturns. What does this mean to you as a leader??
You need to provide different leadershipto individuals, teamz and organizations at the safety and security level versuws the self-esteem/self-actualization level. One group needs simplicity andfrequent communication; the other needes challenging assignments, freedom to grow and strategic direction. If you providee the same leadership provided during thegrowth times, you will experiencew anger, push back and demands for new All are signs that you have not shifteds your leadership to meet the current Even if your business is doing your employees, customers and vendorzs are being affected by the currenf economic state.
It may be theidr family members have beenlaid off, thei 401(k) has shrunk, they can’t make theifr house payment or numerous othed outside events that affect their needs when they come in the door to So recognizing the other factorsd will be critical to you leadintg effectively. Leadership can be a lonely job, but you set the tone for your team or organization so awareness and strategies to take care of your needs will influence how you leadyour team. Step 2 – Have a plan ! During times of uncertainty, plans need to be shorter in time focus andevaluated frequently.
You may need to restructuree your planning team to make it more responsive and Duringgrowth times, we can have a 3- to 5-yeae strategic plan being evaluatede annually that is developed with a largs group of leaders in your During uncertain times it is more effectivre to have a 6- to 9-month plan being evaluates bi-monthly with a small team of key Customer loyalty — not just satisfaction — will be an importanf aspect to current survival and future But recognize that most of your customers/clients and vendors have moved down the self-esteem/safetyt hierarchy as well. They need a plan, simplicity and frequent communication.
Establishn a calendar and plan of regular contacgt with these important partnerships foryour organization. companies cut too deep in a response to afinanciall downturn, leaving employees stretched too thin when the recovery occurs. They need the same thingv your customers/clients and vendors need — reassurance, a plan, simplicity and frequentf communication. Individual conversations during a performance review arenot Bi-monthly, if not weekly “touch bases” need to Establish a similar calendar of frequent communication and regula contact. Now is the time for greater efficiency. Ask: • How can we simplify our procesxsfor clients/customers?
How can we make it easierf to do business with ? • How can we simplify our process for our employees? How can we make it easiet and more efficient for them to do theitr job? Invite your clients/customers and your employees to be part of this questioninvg process. This is an opportunity to create greater efficiencieas for therecovery ahead. My experience is that most leadersx will prefer to start with improvinfprocess (step 5), then plan (stelp 2), then spend more time with their customerse (step 3) and ignore addressing the changeds in motivations (step 1) and spending more time with theid employees (step 4). It is easiet to deal with steps 5, 2 and 3 than steps 1 and 4.
But recognizwe the steps are put together for a Your success in leading through the uncertaintg will be directly related to starting at step 1 and moving systematicall tostep 5. This is a different time and adiffereng need. Embracing the process will build an effective foundation for your busines now and as you retur to growth and stability inthe future.