Keeping Things Focused in Tough Times

In a tough economy, the people who report to you seek stability, clear thinking and goals for the future.

Make sure you provide as much of that as possible!

To a great extent, those under your leadership will feel as secure as they sense you are. So, providing that sense of security is a high-leverage activity.

A few suggestions:

1. Make sure your staff or team knows how the work they’re doing on a daily basis relates to larger organizational goals. Helping staff see these connections gives meaning to their work.

2. Discuss the company’s future plans, particularly as they relate to ensuring a profitable and stable future. Helping employees see the future helps them organize their thinking and behavior around those future goals.

3. Desribe your own focus and passion for the business. This will enhance collaboration and cooperation, as employees feel more camaraderie with the person they’re depending on for leadership.

Being in a leadership position is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, every action you take is being scrutinized. On the other hand, that means you have incredible leverage to help guide people through tough times.

And now more than ever, your staff needs a steady hand at the wheel and a plan for getting them through …