An Insight6 survey of business owners in early May asked, knowing what they know now, what skills they wish they had prior to the pandemic. The list, in no particular order, included:

• Communication – team and customers
• Budgeting – Better handle on the key numbers
• Mental Strength – look after yourself, staying positive
• Prioritisation – focus on important stuff
• Time Management – structure to the day
• Managing Teams remotely

If desirable before, how much more essential are these skills to revitalise an approach to leadership in the post pandemic world?

To find answers, Leaders know they need to look in the mirror, not the window. Answers to searching questions like ‘how do I work ON my business rather than be consumed by it?’ ‘How do I create, rebuild, re-engage, retain & empower a willing and tenacious team?’

Staff inside businesses are often promoted for their skills in their current roles.  But this doesn’t necessarily mean they perform well in management or any new roles. Whilst employers are very talented in developing committed and hardworking workforces, staff are frequently promoted to roles requiring management or leadership skills they hadn’t acquired in previous roles.  This presents a performance gap.

Being promoted on results is natural progression for many businesses, but management roles are a different kettle of fish. Appropriate coaching and learning is essential to ensure internal promotion is successful.  Management styles currently are all under review and new skills are needed as we enter this new norm.

Even where teams may have experienced intensive team-building courses and businesses have helped managers learn how to become more effective within their roles in the pre-Covid world, this is all in the past.  We are entering new territory and training on what to watch for is going to be essential.

By focusing on helping individuals streamline their individual workloads, teaching them how to more effectively manage their time, focus on core objectives and oversee ongoing projects effectively, great progress can be achieved.

Businesses with the correct information and guidance can become better at controlling priorities and ensuring they use the growing expertise of the team, thus providing better results for clients and the business a whole.

Not only can personal leadership skills improve performance of the team, they also allow individual managers to enjoy greater personal success as the business continues to nurture talent within and develop more effective leaders who are ready to rise to the challenges we are all facing.

Now is the time for a revitalised approach to leadership. Now, more than ever, investment in developing leaders is a business-critical priotity.

Article: 20.5.20, Michael Levy