There have been mountains of articles, opinion pieces, and dire assessments of today’s corporate landscape as far as the eye can see over the past few years, most of which solemnly predict various degrees of disaster. Whether it’s an incoming recession, expected rise in unemployment rates, inflation, strikes… the list goes on. These all serve to warn the average business owner of impending doom, but they generally don’t do much to help them understand their place in the chaos or prepare them for times of change.
One particularly crucial aspect of an unstable business world is checking in on the team you already have. These are the people who have already brought you this far, but are you in danger of losing some of them? Between the Great Resignation, the so-called “quiet quitting” trend, and the push/pull between employees who desire a ‘work from home’ option and the employers who prefer to maintain a traditional office, there are several worrying contemporary trends that are putting pressure on the workplace like never before. Here are some things you can do to keep your staff focused, content, and satisfied with their work life.
Most of Your People Dislike Change
Say what you will about doomsayers’ predictions that workers are poised to rise up and revolt against their drab, unfulfilling jobs in the salt mines – most employees actually take comfort in routine. According to Notion Consulting’s 2022 Change Report, 56% of employees are either fully committed to their jobs regardless of change or are willing to go with the flow if and when change occurs. However, 40% of employees feel their company does a mediocre job – or worse – when it comes to meeting financial objectives or customer satisfaction levels, and 60% believe their organization fails at employee engagement or retention during periods of change.
Thankfully, there are ways that successful leaders can mitigate these feelings. Providing clear communication over incoming changes and how they will specifically affect your team can take the guesswork out of potentially worrisome situations. Actively encouraging staff questions and addressing them publicly will affirm the impression that there are no ‘hidden’ developments going on behind closed doors. And providing adequate training and resources for staff that feel out of the loop or unprepared for shifts in company direction or management will ensure that your workers are ready for whatever challenge awaits them.
Let Your Employees Help Paint a Picture
For all the strategic moves a company can make, many of them are at the whim of the larger business world. Even the greatest leader cannot possibly predict future events with 100% certainty and a good number of pivots that an organization decides upon are reactive and protective changes for the betterment of the company. With that being the case, why not allow your staff to take part in some scenario planning to prepare them as well?
The reasons that taking this step just makes good business sense is two-fold: not only are you preparing your employees for various results and utilizing their skills to craft a gameplan for your company, but you are also including them in the process and making them feel like they are part of the solution, rather than a helpless cog in the machine that is beholden to an executive decision. An included and heard employee is a dedicated and proactive employee.
Don’t Beat Around the Bush
For lack of a better phrase, most of your people (especially the long-tenured ones) can smell BS from a mile away. Trying to pull the wool over their eyes with an uncharacteristically rosy outlook that doesn’t match their reality is a quick way to foster suspicion and resentment. What employees want to hear is the truth, even if it may be a hard pill to swallow.
The easiest way a good leader can level the playing field between themselves and their staff is to empathize with their concerns and challenges. This is an opportunity to build connections and relationships with your people and not be the type of leader who is casting down frightening pronouncements from up on high without thought or care.
You should also determine the path forward for the company and analyze the strengths of your staff that can help get the entire team across the finish line. Focusing on what your employees can do as opposed to what they cannot do is a good way to nurture a positive mindset within your company. A ‘glass half empty’ style of leadership is not what your people need during periods of turbulence and change.
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In times of economic uncertainty, it is imperative that a successful company have the right team to keep their bottom line as strong as ever. Global Recruiters Mid-Cities offers world-class placement in the FinTech, Asset Management, Wealth Management, and RIA industries, with a pool of blue-chip talent that we are constantly nurturing and strengthening. Contact us today and find out how GRN can help solve your recruiting needs once and for all!