All around the world, currently all responsible parties share the same desire: to leave the pandemic behind us as quickly as possible! More than a year full of unforeseen situations, uncertainties, constant changes, fears, instability, and losses have forced companies to adapt with extreme agility.
This "earthquake of magnitude 8" weighs heavily on the shoulders of every manager. Since the beginning of the crisis, as an expert of the largest management association in France (the APM - Association progrès pour management), one of the largest associations of managers in France, I have been running a marathon across France. In my encounters with hundreds of executives from various industries and sizes, I have clearly felt that they want to look towards the future, rebuild and change their companies, which is necessary. They want to be optimistic. But beyond optimism, many of them want to already share their optimism through communicating their visions. Is this the right time? All great leaders have visions.
That is part of their success. But I believe it is important to carefully consider when the right time is to share your vision with your teams, employees, or business partners. Is it not too early to talk about visions when so much uncertainty still surrounds us, when we are still in the midst of a pandemic? If the vision is still far from reality and too many factors can interfere, the vision is more of a wish than a solid strategy. If it is communicated early to calm the minds of employees, the vision can easily become a deception. The impatience of leaders can even lead them into a big trap. Disappointment can then lead to a lack of credibility. Once credibility is lost, it is very difficult to regain. So, what should be done in the current situation?
Here are three recommendations based on my observations, leadership experiences, and research of the last ten years: 1. Priority: Restore Relationships Most teams have not seen each other for many months, some for almost a year. Even though companies have facilitated telecommuting through regular Zoom meetings, WhatsApp groups, mobile chat applications with colleagues, or virtual coffee breaks - none of this can replace human contact. It is important to work side by side, express emotions through our nonverbal expressions, which make up over 90% of our communication. Many employees have isolated themselves, partly without realizing how far they have mentally drifted from their desks. For this reason, rebuilding teams is now and after Covid a priority. Therefore, the topic I currently share the most with managers is relationship intelligence, the art of bringing employees and partners together. This implies the need to recognize and analyze the thoughts of individuals before reconnecting them. Over the past ten years, my company Merk Vision (www.merk-vision.com) has conducted research on relationship intelligence in business by surveying hundreds of executives from over 50 international companies and various industries.
Through this research, we were able to identify 5 key qualities that every leader must master and implement in times of transformation. These qualities require excellent and versatile communication skills, such as:
a) Demonstrating empathy through communicating compassion
b) Building trust through clear communication
c) Passion and energy through engaging communication
d) Building genuine pride through motivating communication
e) Promoting gratitude through rewarding communication
2. Next Step: Change for Progress As Benjamin Franklin, one of the founders of the United States, said three centuries ago... "Change is the only constant in life. The ability to adapt to these changes will determine your success in life." Change becomes necessary when external parameters have changed. This happens in times of crisis and is even more relevant when a crisis like the current pandemic hits the world. At the same time, every crisis also offers opportunities, and the companies that recognize and seize them will be the big winners. 57% of Fortune 500 companies emerged in times of crisis, such as Apple, Microsoft, IBM, McDonald's, or Disney. The future economic giants are emerging. However, to be among the winners and not the losers, you must embark on a major transformation process. However, in my consulting and coaching projects, I often observe that leaders are impatient and want to act as quickly as possible. Sometimes they miss an important phase that is essential to move in the right direction: analysis. You must take the time to view your company and its environment from a distance. You must engage in discussions, involve your teams and business partners to ensure everyone is on board. Because transformation is unsettling and can bring even more uncertainty into an already uncertain time.
3. Step: Demonstrate Patience I know it can be tempting to share your vision as soon as it appears. But patience is invaluable in this regard. Because the vision is the leader's greatest trump card. Visions bring hope. The vision is about the future. One must be careful not to communicate the vision too early. Rushing to share positive ideas may work for a few weeks. But if the vision does not become concrete quickly enough, frustration sets in, disappointment and disbelief follow. Keep in mind that the majority of employees are not strategists but operational people. Do not overwhelm their visionary abilities. I'm not saying they are not visionary, but one should not overestimate their visionary spirit. But there will come a time when your teams and your company are ready. Great leaders often sense when the right time has come. After a massive crisis like that of Covid-19, you must treat the patient step by step. You cannot cure a serious illness if you have not taken the right medication and followed the instructions on the prescription. So, first strengthen the relationships of your employees with the company before initiating a transformation process after careful analysis. Watch for when your teams are ready to hear your vision. Then you can finally move on to Step
4: Announce your vision! Dr. Michaela Merk has been a speaker and trainer for Speakers Excellence for 10 years and was awarded the CSP Label (Certified Speaking Professional) in 2020. It is the highest internationally recognized label for professional speakers. As an expert in relationship and emotional intelligence for developing leadership talents, sales excellence, and luxury brands, Dr. Michaela Merk has inspired more than 100,000 people in over 20 countries. Her motto: "People who master relationship intelligence have the secret to inspire their teams and create an unforgettable customer and employee experience." In addition to her work as a speaker, Michaela is a professor at Sciences Po Paris, author of several books, including "Luxury Salesforce Management (Springer Verlag)," and offers consulting, leadership training, and coaching through her company Merk Vision (www.merk-vision.com).