Today’s challenges hold the opportunity not only for productivity-as-usual, but for productivity better-than-usual.
As we’re all too well aware, we’re living through an especially turbulent time. And now, like it or not, we’re pioneering our way through tremendous uncertainty and the rapid-fire impact of a global pandemic.
Life as we know it has been eclipsed by significant disruptions that impact our schools, homes, health, families, finances, workplaces, businesses, industries, social norms, and communities. What we might have dubbed “The Future of Work” just arrived at our doorstep.
Businesses must pivot quickly - not only to meet the new needs of their customers and communities, but to meet the challenges of a disrupted workplace.
One of the casualties of this chaotic time may be your team’s productivity. But it doesn’t have to be.
It will depend on whether leaders (and their teams) rise to the occasion or opt to wait it out for a return to normal. Newsflash: Normal isn’t returning. Rather, leaders need to wake up to today’s transformational forces and work with them to create new value and better ways of working. Status quo is done. We need a new normal. It’s time to rethink and rewrite how we work.
Leaders can use the constraints and realities of this time to reset for the conditions of productivity in this brave new world. But only if they pursue it deliberately with the aim to change business-as-usual. This is a chance to remove the tacit barriers to productivity and unleash the power of a productive work culture. Are you game?
Lead Through Disruption Productively helps leaders navigate these uncertain waters with clarity and confidence. This coaching program (for individuals and/or groups) explores and builds the capabilities needed to be agile, responsive, and productive amidst disruption. The program supports leaders (and teams) to Plan Forward, Take the Lead, Communicate Courageously, Strengthen Culture, and Circle the Team when the world is topsy turvy (and when it’s not).
The coaching program can be provided to individual leaders, leaders and their teams, or a group of leaders.
Lead Through Disruption Productively
A Coaching Program
This coaching program (for individuals and groups) helps leaders build the capability to meet uncertain times productively.
Components
Plan Forward
Yesterday’s plans most likely don’t fit today’s reality or tomorrow’s possibility. If you act like nothing’s changed, the road ahead will be rocky. It’s important to reset the plan with clear-eyed vision and a focus on what matters now and going forward.
Assess the impact of current conditions on the work and on the way you work.
Pivot and prioritize. Innovate.
Design a basic plan for the short game (immediate disruption) that sets you up for the long game (new future).
Get principled. Establish the criteria that allow you to respond quickly to changing circumstances and make decisions on the fly.
Hold up the plan. Go back to the plan. Adjust as needed.
Strengthen Culture
Culture is the set of norms and behaviors that create belonging in a group. Culture is the glue that holds the team together, working cohesively, which is especially critical when team members are dispersed or rotating in and out of the office setting, etc. Being deliberate about promoting a self-generating, productive culture beats micro-management any day of the week.
Tend to trust.
Create a level playing field.
Build visibility, connection, and networks.
Show compassion.
Meet better.
Retool.
Rewrite the rules (Do we really need to meet for 2 hours?).
Promote productive norms.
Take the Lead
Disruption is not the time to “lead from the back.” This is a time for leaders to show up and step up. A steady hand makes a difference in choppy waters. It signals safety, confers confidence, amplifies focus, and inspires courage. Leaders need to model principled leadership and inspire everyone to “lead from their seats” - to take responsible action to support the collective effort.
Avoid the crisis vacuum (aka, coasting or “wake me when it’s over” mentality).
Show the way.
Pioneer the way forward with purpose and steer clear of the nostalgia of “getting back to normal.” Lead into a new normal.
Circle the team
Humans are pack animals, having overcome threats and challenges by banding together. We have an innate drive to connect and cooperate. And a cohesive team working together collaboratively will outperform siloed individual contributors.
Especially when team members are dispersed, it’s easy for them to disengage. When that happens, motivation and productivity can plummet. It’s important to fully engage your team to tap into the collective ingenuity, which is especially needed during turbulent times. (And this takes something other than endless Zoom meetings.)
Dust off your emotional intelligence.
Pay attention to the energy.
Reassess assignments.
Acknowledge to strengthen.
Upgrade coordination and make workflows visible.
Promote a bias for action (but not just any action).
Communicate Courageously
Disruption cuts the crap. Things get real. And leaders need to be real in order to earn trust - a pre-requisite for high performing teams. Leaders need to communicate compassionately, courageously, and consistently to foster team cohesion during a tumultuous time. This is especially true when team members may be dispersed. Communication is king. And queen.
Tell the truth. Skip the BS.
Communicate often.
Repeat principles and purpose.
Speak with clarity and optimism.
Get specific.
What’s Included
Lead Through Disruption Productively is a coaching program for individual leaders, a small group of leaders, or a leader and their team. While there are basic features of the coaching program, it’s calibrated to address the needs, interests, and schedule of an individual (and/or team).
Lead Through Disruption Productively program typically includes the following elements:
Inquire
Leader X Team Assessment
An initial assessment identifies the challenges and opportunities in order to design a LTD Productively plan for you (and your team).
Identify
Leader Playbook
The Leader Playbook outlines your LTD Productively plan considering the various elements of the coaching program and calibrating it to your (and the team’s) needs, interests, and timeframe.
Implement + Iterate
CoachinG | Training SESSIONS
Leaders engage in 8 to 16 sessions over 2 to 4 months based on the needs and goals. However, this can be fast-tracked to 6 weeks, as needed. The sessions can be designed for 1:1 coaching, group coaching, or team coaching.
The coaching/training includes strategies to try out related to: Plan Forward, Take the Lead, Communicate Courageously, Strengthen Culture, and Circle the Team.
Culture Design
We’ll design the set of team practices that will promote an adaptive, productive culture during this time of disruption and change.