3 ways you can create stability in uncertain situations

fastcompany.com

Keep reading for FREE

Challenges of hybrid work for leaders

The hybrid work environment creates new challenges for leaders, including:

How to keep everyone focused amid so much change
When and how to communicate when some workers are on-site while others work remotely
How to make fair decisions
How to manage conflict when employees are out of sight and out of mind.

Innovative leaders can use this time of instability and uncertainty to define leadership of the future.

157 reads

Clarity

Clarity can be as simple as guiding an employee to the next right step, sharing a big vision for the future, or accurately describing a particular situation and desired outcome.

Here’s a checklist of areas that contribute to a lack of clarity:

Policies that are outdated or unenforced
Constantly changing priorities
Ineffective digital communications
Misunderstanding about how decisions are made
Unclear job descriptions.

74 reads

Communication

Today’s hybrid leader must acquire good writing and speaking skills as well as competency on various platforms.

Quick tips to become a better communicator in a hybrid work environment:

Text is okay for short updates or requests
Keep emails simple and short with the action item as the end
Space and format emails for easy reading
Difficult conversations require video or in-person meetings
Phone trumps email for complex issues.

If there’s too much confusion, excessive unresolved conflict, and lack of follow-through, it could be due to ineffective communication.

56 reads

Conflict capacity

The hybrid workplace requires leaders to have the capacity and competency to manage conflict among remote workers, virtual teammates, vendors, partners, and contractors.

How to calm down and get clear before handling difficult situations.

Feel the emotion, but don’t act until you have calmed down.
Instead of sending the email, send a calendar invite for a one-on-one meeting.
Plan your conversation, and clarify your intended result.
Clarify the situation by stating what’s happening that should not be happening.
Initiate a one-on-one private conversation in person or by videoconferencing.

53 reads