Nearly everyday in the news, we hear about employees struggling in their work due to the COVID-19 attack. Words such as isolated, confused, lonely and depressed fill conversations. People work remotely and isolated from each other except for the required conversations on ZOOM. What should the business owner do?
In the world of management excellence, there seems to be a rush to develop the latest thoughts regarding leadership and I enjoy reading those thoughts.
But, in the day-to-day world of organizational life, reality has to come to the forefront and it’s sensible for us to seek the foundational theory that has stood the test of time. We believe in tried and true methods.
Nearly 10 years ago, a management writer named Tom Peters came up with a very simple leadership process called MBWA (Management by Walking Around!). He recommended a manager should spend an important part of his/her day walking around the business, talking and listening to the employees, searching out their joys and fears, and learning more about what’s going well and what’s not. Marcus Buckingham calls it “engaging employees”. John Maxwell calls it “connection”. Whatever you choose to call it, Management by Walking Around is your opportunity to chase away the COVID-19 blues.
Here at Executive Advantage we say leadership is a heart to heart relationship. John Maxwell puts it this way: “You must get an employee’s heart before you get their hands.”
Here’s a challenge for your in-charge persons! Spend some time with your employees. Get out of your office, and listen to what the people are feeling and saying. Go where they are. Share with them what you like most about their work. Add the human element to your job description, and make someone’s day. Give them reason to feel good about their work.
Even the best athletes need coaches. Have you thought about adding a coach to your management team? Why not schedule a one-to-one meeting with us soon to discuss the pluses of working together.
Bob Scribner