Chatting with any successful business leader about their secrets to success can lead to a lot of new information for those just starting out on their own. One piece of information that will likely come up over and over is the importance of actual leadership. Anyone can run a business, but the ability to lead a business isn’t a skill that everyone has. Ultimately, the difference is a common factor in determining whether or not a company will succeed.
This year hasn’t exactly been an easy year for the vast majority of companies. With constantly evolving restrictions on potential customers, employees that are dealing with a wide variety of stressors, and converting everyone to remote work — it is hard to think of anything in the business world as actually stable. These waves of change have brought their challenges, but they have also brought out the best in true company leaders.
As we wrap up 2020 (and hopefully never have to look back) we can take some of the major lessons learned and apply them as we look forward to 2021. Leadership has changed and will continue to evolve, begging the question — what does a great leader look like in 2021?
Builds Transparency
Nobody really wants to work for someone who isn’t straight with them about issues and concerns. Likewise, nobody enjoys working in an environment where they feel as though they are kept in the dark about a lot of what is actually going on. Because of this, leaders who can build a transparent, honest, and clear working environment are typically highly respected by their employees.
This respect can lead to a lot of good things for companies. For example, employees who feel as though they are getting all of the information — the good and the bad — from their managers are more likely to adapt, manage expectations, and make decisions that can have a long-term benefit. Employees that feel like they are getting all of the information are also more capable of coming forward with concerns and giving feedback about difficult situations.
In today’s world, the need for moral, honest leadership in companies has never been higher. In fact, one survey found that nearly 86% of U.S.-based employees felt that leadership needed more of a moral, honest focus than it currently has. 2020 has been a year of changes and adaptation; one lesson that can be taken forward in 2021 is to keep employees in the loop to what is changing as much as possible and don’t lie to them about the realities of any difficult adaptations.
Communicates Effectively
Maintaining a transparent, honest relationship with employees is a key aspect of great leadership. But to effectively have this type of relationship, business leaders must also be great communicators. Time and time again, employees will cite communication skills as a critical aspect of great leadership — even within some of the most successful companies in the world.
What this means in the real world is finding a manager who can work well with employees from a variety of different backgrounds and communication styles. This manager will need to be able to lead their employees through changing company goals and workflows while still keeping everyone on the same page, employee satisfaction levels high, and customer service top-notch! It certainly isn’t always an easy task!
The big change from working in an office setting to remote work that took place in 2020 is a profound communication challenge that many managers were faced with. Some employees made the switch easily and maybe a few were even more productive, while others really struggled and found a great deal of frustration in attempting to complete work tasks from home. Great communicators and leaders quickly became apparent through their abilities to handle the situation — this will continue to evolve in 2021.
Values Employees
Finally, and arguably most importantly, effective leaders are those who continue to place a high value on the people who work for them. People love working for someone who values the contributions they make, builds them up, and listens to their struggles with compassion. This type of effective leadership style works to build employee morale and ultimately boosts overall productivity and company loyalty.
The value a company places on employees can be expressed in several ways. Clearly outline perks and benefits in your employee handbook. The more you can define these for employees, the more they will factor positively into overall employee satisfaction and productivity. Some of the biggest ways employees show they care are things such as:
- Health and wellness policies
- Telework opportunities
- Flexible work schedules
- Company parties
- Yearly bonuses
- Recognition of employee achievements
Adapting to remote work has made it far more difficult for companies to actually show they care. Gone are the days when walking breaks were common and company parties to celebrate big wins meant cupcakes in the breakroom. While it may be difficult, it is essential and good leaders recognize this and strive to achieve it. Moving into 2021, these efforts will continue to be more important than ever.
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What good leadership means in action has changed a great deal in this past year, but the core components are still there. Effective leaders are those that can adapt to difficult situations while still maintaining transparent, honest relationships, communicating effectively, and showing employees they care. In 2021, these concepts will still be essential, though their execution may be a bit different than it was in the past.
