Cynthia Clay's Blog
Moving into Management in the Midst of Volatility
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
People moving into their first manager role usually encounter common challenges: supervising former colleagues, holding people accountable without micromanaging them, learning to handle conflict proactively, and developing a positive management style. However, the year 2020 has also heightened the sense of chaos and volatility as new managers take on increased responsibility during a global pandemic. What is always important is the emerging leader’s ability to motivate, communicate with, and inspire their employees. With so much anxiety about what might happen next, new leaders must also foster a sense of belonging to the team and the organization. In this chaotic time, connection is more important than correction.
Frontline managers comprise 50% of any organization’s management team; however, they supervise 80% of the workforce. Organizations that view these crucial frontline leaders as a strategic advantage choose to invest in their development through training and mentoring rather than expecting them to learn how to manage “on the fly.” As Millennials now comprise over 50% of the workforce, these purpose-driven workers are moving into management roles, eager to lead and contribute inside their companies.
At the heart of the NetSpeed Leadership program for emerging leaders are these five Leadership Guidelines:
- Create an Optimistic Climate
- Promote Collaborative Relationships
- Encourage Exceptional Performance
- Focus for High Impact
- Cultivate Trust
Now, as never before, leaders who embrace these guidelines will make a difference inside their organizations.
To create an optimistic climate, leaders must acknowledge the uncertainty and chaos we are experiencing, while at the same time encouraging positive, constructive action. To promote collaborative relationships, leaders must consciously build teamwork even though some individuals may be working from home away from their colleagues. To encourage exceptional performance, leaders need to review goals set earlier in the year, to confirm or change these targets in response to changes in the external environment. To keep everyone focused for high impact, leaders may need to hold more frequent virtual huddles to check in with everyone and check out their progress on projects and tasks. To cultivate trust, first-level leaders need to increase communication and transparency, answering questions to the best of their ability and admitting when they simply do not know the answers and need to consult others.
NetSpeed Learning Solutions has updated its flagship leadership skills development program, NetSpeed Leadership™, to help frontline leaders meet the challenges of managing employees in a complex, demanding, often virtual, world. With 24 customizable modules which you may license and deliver in the face-to-face or virtual classrooms, NetSpeed Leadership equips your organization to meet the needs of these emerging frontline leaders.
Download our ebook, The Other Side of the Desk: Five Leadership Guidelines for New Managers, to dive into 25 leader behaviors that can help your managers transition effectively to leading others.
And take our leadership self-assessment to explore your leadership type. We are happy to aggregate the responses of up to 25 managers in your organization.
Posted by Cynthia Clay at 9:30 am
