Navigating the new normal
Change is inevitable and the current scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic is a true example of the same. How we react to the situation is what makes all the difference. We have two options: ignore it or deal with it.
This is where leaders play a pivotal role in setting a direction for their organizations. Employees look up to their leaders for direction and at the times of exponential uncertainty and crisis like today, it becomes even more critical for leaders to keep their employees moving ahead.
People who have been leading teams and various departments for years are quite equipped with the skills required to lead their teams during these uncertain times. However, the ones who have recently taken up more responsibilities would require a different kind of handholding. It is important for the L&D heads and their people’s leaders to upskill them; find training suitable for their quick learning that is in line with their departmental goals. This will require diagnosing of the current situation, the amount of support and direction required and eventually finding ways of providing it.
Leadership skills have always been important, they are not just ‘nice-to-have’, but a ‘must-to-have’, and are an essential part of the sustenance and success of any organization. Just having a strategy in place might not be enough, converting strategies into realities is also crucial for leaders.
This is where our time-tested leadership model- SLII® becomes a possible solution to this eternal problem. Not just at the time of unprecedented crises like today, but for future unpredictabilities, this leadership training is imperative for leaders at any level of their leadership journey.
The SLII® leadership model and training program teach three basic skills—Goal Setting, Diagnosing, and Matching. This model has been taught for more than 40 years and has created more than 5 million, best managers around the world. This model has stood the test of time through countless economic crises around the world. Today, using SLII® we are able to help various organizations across geographies and sectors to navigate through the ‘New Normal. It not just equips leaders with the required skills but also helps with the mental and emotional aspects of change.
The SLII® model provides a framework to hold meaningful conversations with your teams and provide them with the right kind of support as and when they need it.
Every time a good conversation is held, it facilitates the next conversation to bring more focus and build deeper connections with the teams. This becomes imperative when your people are under stress. Leaders need to take command of the situation in a strategic way; they need to be empathetic and reflect concern through their conversations. This helps avoid awkwardness and increase confidence while building trust at the same time.
Great leaders are not born, they are trained. They are the ones who are capable of building more tough and agile teams. Conversations between managers and their direct reports involve a certain degree of emotion.
SLII® model is equipped enough to provide leaders with the language to move people through the four stages of development. These are:
Stage 1. Clarify the plan and make the vision clearer to the teams.
Stage 2.Work on the impediments and disillusionment that inevitably get in people’s way
Stage 3. Gain momentum towards the goal.
Stage 4. It is quite evident, sailing. Teams are empowered and self-reliant to navigate on their own.
Enthusiasm and motivation are the by-products of the hard work people put in to achieve their goals. Empowering the teams to achieve their goals on their own gives a lot of joy to their leaders.
Our SLII® model helps managers invest the energies of their people in the right direction, so that common goal are achieved.
This blog is adapted from our International partner Scott Blanchard’s blog titled “Leading in the New Normal” published on May 4th, 2020.