[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Covid-19 had a devastating impact on the world. Entire countries shut down and businesses were forced to close or convert to remote work. With the pandemic seemingly under control, businesses must adjust to returning workers and a hybrid office.
Rebuilding leadership after Covid hasn’t been easy as employees received unprecedented autonomy and don’t want to give up working from home. The shutdown showed us that many businesses can effectively be run from home, but how does that impact leadership and the traditional work environment.
Leadership must change or else face mass resignations and talent shortages. We’ll examine how leadership has changed and what must be done to create employee confidence.
Disconnection From Profession
One of the biggest worries companies had at the beginning of the pandemic was communication with employees. Office life is more than just work, it’s conversations with management and co-workers. It’s as much a social environment as it is work.
Many employees identify themselves through their job and the pandemic stripped much of this away. There were no longer in-person meetings in the conference room or water-cooler conversations. It was replaced by Zoom meetings and emails.
The connection employees felt with their employer and their co-workers was severed. This left many people in professional limbo and reconsidering their choices. While they still do the job, the passion for it and the company are gone.
Frontline Workers and Loss of Trust
The impact of the pandemic on front-line workers from doctors and nurses to grocery store clerks was definite. They had to brave contamination or else the world stopped. Covid pushed doctors and nurses to the extreme with many becoming sick and even dying because of contamination from patients.
Leadership watched as their employees stopped worrying about shift changes and instead about survival. The world realized how important these people are and now that everything is returning to normal, they realized it too.
The pandemic caused many front-line workers to lose trust in leadership. This is especially true if the leadership wasn’t on the front lines as well. There is nothing more important than trust in the leadership. Employees count on them having their back and the pandemic showed that wasn’t always the case.
Massive Layoffs and Rehires
The pandemic had serious financial repercussions throughout the world, and it forced many businesses to cut down on staff or close completely. Many employees were left in the lurch with no way to pay their bills.
The government stepped in to help and now that the shutdown is over, businesses need those employees back, and they’re not returning. They feel betrayed by their employees who cut them off at the worst possible time.
The business may not want to do it, but that doesn’t matter to people who needed rent money. It also gave them time to reflect on their job choices and they may not want to come back to their original position.
Rebuilding Leadership After Covid
The traditional leadership methods won’t work anymore as employees take back control. They no longer sit back and take orders; they want concessions and leadership must make them…to a point.
There is a fine line between creating a better workplace environment and being taken advantage of. The key is rebuilding the trust and connection that was lost during the pandemic. This isn’t an easy task, and it takes rethinking current leadership roles and taking care of the employee’s interests.
One of the biggest changes will be listening to your employees. The old model of corporate communication was formal and top-down. The upper management dealt with middle management, and they sent the info to employees.
Today, communication needs to be more informal and conversational. Employees need personal and direct communication. This helps build trust and authenticity from the leadership. It shows that they’re not people living in an ivory tower, but they care about their employees.
Include Employees in Decisions
Every decision made by management impacts the employees. The hybrid workplace and remote working gave employees autonomy. They became masters of their own lives.
Post-pandemic employees need involvement in decisions that directly impact them. If they want to continue the hybrid workplace, then sit with representatives and see what compromises can be made.
If you involve employees in the decision-making process, it shows transparency and creates brand ambassadors of your employees. They’re not just a worker, but someone involved with the direction of the company.
Create a Clear Plan
Many companies don’t have a clear plan for the future, and this leaves employees worried about their jobs and the direction of the company. The new leadership model creates an agenda that is shared with the employees.
It gives the employees something to work towards besides just a paycheck. They’re also involved in the creation of this vision, which gives them a personal attachment. The company no longer feels like an unfeeling entity, but a place they’re proud to work at.
Learn Proper Leadership Skills
Leaders aren’t born, they’re made. They learn proper management techniques and apply them to the workplace. Sadly, not many leaders learn everything they need on the job. They require training and our core curriculum creates leaders.
Synergy Education’s leadership courses give you the tools to navigate the post-pandemic environment and live your life with gratitude. Your employees deserve a gracious and conscientious leader.
By going through our personal development and leadership courses, you learn the importance of communication and how to treat the people around you. It’s not only good for the workplace but all aspects of your life.
Check out our courses today.
The Times Are Changing
Rebuilding leadership after one of the most devastating periods in American history isn’t going to be easy. Employees have different goals and values following the pandemic and it’s something the leadership must address.
Synergy Education prides itself on a leadership curriculum that prepares you for the rigors of today’s workplace. Leaders are the backbone of a company, and they need the trust of their employees. You can have that and more through our professional development courses.
Signup for a free discovery session to learn more. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]