ONE KEY TO BEING A LEADER IN THE TOUGH MOMENTS
This week I am focusing on some fundamentals of leadership. Let me tell you the story that prompted this.
One of my children works in a large grocery store and has done for over 3 years. First as a casual employee and now as a permanent part-time employee. She has a long track record of showing up, of taking responsibility, of doing a great job.
She also takes on training new employees, often people who are either still at school or starting their first job, or some people who have English as a second language. She is trusted to guide them to learn the correct processes and procedures so the department she works in, and the store, runs well.
And though she is simply a team member, not a team leader, a manager or department manager, she is often trusted and expected to take on the responsibilities of running the department in her department managers absence. Her leader trusts her to do this.
Recently, my daughter had been unwell for a few days. And this meant she was not able to work all of her scheduled shifts in the store. She notified her leader in the normal way, and provided a doctor’s certificate to confirm that yes, she was sick and should not be at work.
“
Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.
– Publilius Syrus, (fl. 85–43 BC) Latin Writer
”
The response from her leader though, has been interesting.
The leader has blamed his team member for the implications of her being unwell and unable to work.
As it turned out, there was no plan B, so the only option the leader had was to cover these shifts by working himself. This did not make him happy. And as a consequence, this has resulted in poor behaviour towards his team and this team member.
Snide remarks. Blaming the team member for being unwell. Blaming the team member because the manager worked an additional shift. Immature, inappropriate, and really ‘unleaderlike’ behaviour.
But here is the thing, it is not the team member’s responsibility to figure out how to make the team work when they are sick and unwell and cannot come to work. It is up to the leader to ensure they have options. Options that mean they have other people in the team who have capacity and capability when called on. Other people who can complete tasks beyond their standard ones, so when a team member is unwell or on holidays the department and store can continue to operate, continue to deliver and meet customer expectations.
It is the leader who should be showing up as a leader and providing the support that their team members need, both those at work and those who are too unwell to work, rather than blaming them for the difficulties the leader now faces.
If you take on the privilege and responsibility of leadership, then you need to show up and lead. It starts with you.
First lead yourself, face up to yourself as a leader, show up at your best, and step up your leadership so you are continuing to grow.
It is not an unreasonable expectation that when you are a leader, that you act like one. So if you are having a frustrating day, if you are having a challenging day, if things have not gone as you had planned, choose how you are going to be a leader in that moment and in all the moments.
It is pretty rare that everything goes perfectly all of the time. One of your key roles as a leader is to navigate this. As a leader, to lead your team through the uncertainty, through the unknown, through the instability, through the complexity, not because you know all of the answers, but because you are a leader and your people need you to lead.
If you are not equipped yet to do this, then perhaps consider:
- What do you need, to be equipped?
- How can you grow?
- How can you learn?
- How can you become an even better leader?
Leadership starts with you. Know, Be and Do Leadership.
I’d love to know your thoughts.
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