Leadership - Keeping It Real

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Following up on my most recent article, Authentic Leadership During Troubling Times, I’d like to explore how leaders can keep it real in a virtual and socially distanced world. 

Like everyone else, I’ve run the emotional marathon from enthusiastic zoomer to begging for a face-to-face meeting. From the very beginning of the pandemic, I’ve been a huge cheerleader for connecting everyone digitally. I was—and still am—using all the helpful hints by industry experts to keep team members engaged.  After all, the pandemic could not last forever and I needed to keep everyone positive and productive until this was over and we returned to normal.

Fast forward almost nine months and the pandemic is still with us and doesn’t appear close to waning.  The challenges of our “new normal” are daunting: supporting far-flung family members, kids learning virtually, significant life events postponed, favorite activites cancelled, businesses at risk, work stress, and longer hours.  Now add in video conference fatigue and the never-ending pursuit of maintaining virtual connectedness and what started with apt enthusiasm and determination has become much more of a struggle.  Keeping your teams—especially remote teams—engaged and on mission is getting harder as the days go by, putting performance and productivity at risk.   

As a leader, your teams look to your example. They want honesty, authenticity, and reassurance.  This can be challenging in the best of circumstances, but especially so during times of crisis.  One way leaders can support their teams through increasingly difficult times is to keep it real. Let them know whats going on and acknowledge both their worries and your own. Another way is to openly address the challenges they may be dealing with as they work from home. They’re just as fatigued as you are. It can help to talk about your own struggles and what you’re doing to help overcome them.  Keep in mind, however, there is such as thing as oversharing.  If something would be inappropriate in an office setting, or if it doesn’t add value to the conversation, leave it out. 

Following are a few more helpful tips that have helped me to be real with my teams. They also help in giving yourself a break.   

Acknowledge you’re all struggling.  I start most calls by giving everyone the opportunity to share their “reality bites” comments. This lets people know they’re not alone in their struggles while providing insight into impending issues that may need addressing. During difficult times, your teams want to know you care and are listening. They also want to hear you express your own frustrations.   

Set standard working hours. So many people I talk with say they are putting in even longer days than before the pandemic. Studies indicate that many remote workers are putting in three addition hours per day. Since there’s no longer a commute, we just open the laptop and get right to it.  Work with your teams to set a realistic schedule and then set an example by sticking to it yourself.

Limit video calls. Just because you can spend all day on video calls doesn’t mean you should. Make sure your teams know it’s okay to take breaks just as they would in the office. Try to avoid having video calls around lunch time if possible. People are more productive when they can step away from the computer to disconnect. 

Ask for help. Leaders are often reluctant to ask for help. Being vulnerable enough to ask for your team’s support can help build a sense of commoraderie and trust. You’re all in this together. 

As a leader, you set the tone—in good times or bad. Are you authenic to your core values? Are you sharing your own thoughts and struggles around the pandemic?  Are you keeping your teams informed on how the business is performing and the part they play in staying successful?  Are you encouraging them to keep it real? Are you keeping it real? 

“You have to be real with yourself, before you can be real with anyone else.” Anonymous

For additional reading:

9 Ways to Focus a Wandering Mind (Headway Capital)

Three Hours Longer, the Pandemic Workday Has Obliterated Work-Life Balance (Bloomberg)

 6 Ways to Relieve Your Work from Home Fatigue (University of Michigan Health)