GUEST POST: Navigating a strengths-forward approach to management
Use your strengths as your compass
Guest post by
In the post-pandemic workplace, managers face a whole bunch of challenges: a mental health crisis, rapidly shifting skills, a heightened focus on purpose, and the need to manage performance differently and engage dispersed teams in a flexible work environment.
The strain on managers is palpable. In 2022, the HR research firm Gartner found that managers' responsibilities doubled since the pandemic hit, with 35% overseeing more people and 49% dealing with increased complexity. Gartner’s survey of HR leaders found that despite investing in development, only 25% feel confident about managers' training. With increased responsibility and ineffective support, burnout follows. An Adecco Group 2023 survey found that 68% of the 16,000 managers they surveyed suffered burnout in the past year, a significant increase from 43% in 2022.Â
If this is all too relatable for you, one antidote may be taking a step back, recognizing the unique abilities you bring to the table, and leaning into them. It could be an innate ability to foster inclusion, a talent for adapting to industry shifts, a gift for communicating vision, a skill for assessing team readiness, or a sixth sense forabout cultivating collaboration. By relying on your innate strengths, you can find a solid footing amidst the chaos and start charting a course forward with greater confidence and clarity.
Questions for Reflection: Reframing Your Strengths:
To start recognizing and leaning into your unique strengths, consider how different parts of your role work for you:
Do my team members feel safe sharing their thoughts with me?
Have I led my team well through big changes or new skills they needed to learn?
Do my team members understand how their work helps advance our larger goals?
Do I naturally think about team capacity and readiness for change?
Do I notice if my colleagues are collaborating and innovating effectively?
Feel into your answers. Which of these questions gets you excited, making you feel energized and eager to dive in? And which answers keep you up at night and make your stomach churn? Pay attention to these visceral responses - they're clues about where to start.Â
What did this reflection bring up for you?
The SHIFT Approach: A Compass for Navigating Change
The domains below form a sort of compass, guiding managers through the uncharted territory of the post-pandemic workplace:
Security (S): In times of uncertainty, creating environments that prioritize physical, emotional, and social safety is crucial for fostering trust and engagement.
Horizon (H): With rapid changes in skills and roles, managers need strategies for envisioning progress and facilitating growth for themselves and their teams.
Impact (I): As purpose and meaning become increasingly important, aligning tasks with broader goals and prioritizing measurable outcomes is key to motivation and performance.
Fluidity (F): The rise of flexible work arrangements and constant change requires clear approaches to leading change and supporting work-life integration.
Ties: (T) With dispersed teams and increased isolation, managers must find ways to connect their teams in meaningful and productive ways.
When you identify your strongest suits and competencies across these five domains, it can a roadmap for how to leverage them to navigate challenges and develop in other areas. By starting from a place of confidence and skill, you can build a strong foundation for effective leadership.
A Strengths-Forward Approach in Action
Alexa, a team leader at a tech firm, was getting frustrated with Jamie, her team member, for inviting a client to sensitive meetings. Alexa decided to use her strength in connecting the dots (Impact) to tackle the issue. She met with Jamie to discuss the sensitive nature of the relationship (Security) and explain the wider context. By being open to adapting her approach (Fluidity), Alexa turned a frustrating situation into a learning opportunity, boosting Jamie's engagement and performance.
Navigating the uncharted territories of the post-pandemic workplace can feel overwhelming and daunting. But even in the face of massive uncertainty, there's a rock-solid foundation you can always rely on: your unique strengths as a leader. The real work starts with you. It's about having the courage to look inward, the willingness to experiment with new approaches, and the commitment to keep growing and adapting as a leader.
So take a moment to pause and reflect on your unique strengths. Consider how you can use them to create a more positive, productive, and purposeful workplace for yourself and your team. The journey ahead may be uncharted, but with your strengths as your compass, you have the solid foundation you need to navigate it with confidence and success.
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Guest contributor and Optionality Premium member Rachael Lowell Ellison is the Founder and Principal of Reworking Leadership, a coaching and consulting firm guiding leaders and their organizations through the new abnormal.Â