​WHEN THE WORKFORCE IS IN LOCKDOWN, ARE YOU ARE STILL THE BOSS?

Being The Boss During the "Great Distancing"

The current Covid-19 crisis is fracturing the workplace and having dramatic consequences for managers and employees. There are financial, technical and cultural challenges. The traditional office, with clear hierarchies, must now function in the virtual space. Yesterday you might have had a seat at the head of the conference table and now you are just another head in a teleconference box. The virtual space gives the impression of many among equals. That, however, is not reality nor is it the reality that will drive a productive remote workforce.
 
If you were a senior executive or manager yesterday, you are still so today. You have a team to lead and now, more than ever, it’s imperative to ignore the traditional labels and cues associated with “being the boss” and rise as an effective leader.
 
With the workforce on lockdown and constrained by remote work, it’s imperative to exercise the leadership skills that will guide the team through the crisis. 

• Communicate in a manner that inspires. Especially during a crisis this communication requires compassion and empathy for workers who may feel displaced or uncertain about their future.
• Engage with employees as teammates, taking the time to know them better than might be typical in the traditional workplace. Working from home is more “personal” and this connection will drive confidence and productivity.
• Show confidence that there is a plan notwithstanding all the disruption and uncertainty. A leader is followed into battle when the “troops” are confident in the plan and the likelihood of success. Sharing the short and long term business plan may seem unnatural but dividends will be seen in a workforce committed to succeeding.

 
General Stanley McChrystal has a distinguished military career rooted in his effective leadership. He has written often about the traits of a leader. In his book, Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, he writes: “Purpose affirms trust, trust affirms purpose, and together they forge individuals into a working team.” You and your team are in this crisis together. Your leadership will pave the way to coming out of it intact.

---