Your team’s success will not be measured the same way it was when things were normal
The Canadian Federal Government agency that wrote these principles is so very enlightened.
Many companies have not yet changed what they are measuring. They should!
We could give them the benefit of the doubt by saying they have been focused on keeping the business going. But people need to know what the new expectations are. Communication about revised targets needs to be clear, otherwise people will be killing themselves trying to achieve all the old targets plus a few extras.
Let’s not make any assumptions that we should be hitting the same targets. Times have changed and targets need to change with them.
What influence do you have to change the targets in your part of the organisation? How can you reprioritise those with your boss? What feels realistic for both the people who are in the organisation and for the organisation’s survival.
Don’t wait passively to be told what the new target are. Start a discussion. Help to shape them. Pitch in.
As Pritchett and Pound say: “Soldiers will tell you it’s hard to be a hero during peace time. It’s in the heat of combat that one wins medals and rises in rank rapidly. The same thing is true in business – when things are quiet, peaceful and the company is not being tested, there’s less of a chance for valour. But major change changes that. Now you have a chance to show what you’re made of, to be loyal and committed. You can make your mark because there’s a real need for good soldiers to protect the organisation.” I agree with all of that, AND this is not about being loyal and committed at the cost of your health. It is about being loyal and committed AND being a great role model for the people you lead, in terms of how you:
- Are “at your home, during a crisis, trying to work” – not treating this like a “normal” working from home day
- Make time for your personal, physical, mental and emotional health
- Get the balance right between work and life
- Are kind to yourself and don’t judge how you are coping based on how you see others coping
- Are kind to others and don’t judge how they are coping based on how you are coping
- Revise the targets that you and your team are working towards
This crisis has hit us all too fast, too hard. So we haven’t necessarily made conscious adjustments as we have been running to keep up. No rest, little time to think. We are now recognising it for what it is – a marathon, not a sprint. That means we need to have some space to think about additional new habits that will allow us to prevent burn-out. It’s time. Breathe. Slow down. Think about what you want for yourself here. Then think about how you want to be seen as a leader of people.
Please feel free to comment below, i’d love to know your views.
Further posts in this mini-series can be found here.
