How to lead with positivity during tough times

After what we’ve all faced in the last 12 months it is, quite frankly, ok to feel a bit rubbish. It would be surprising if you didn’t.

Times have been tough, to put it mildly. In the first wave of the pandemic, many of us were fired up on the adrenaline of dealing with the challenges being thrown at us. But now, many of us are simply weary of the fight. We can feel disconnected, both from family, friends and work.

But with the rollout of the vaccine there is light at the end of the tunnel, and for business leaders it’s time to recapture the fighting spirit and find the psychological stamina needed to lead with positivity.

Finding the energy

Naturally, that’s easier said than done. We are all suffering pandemic fatigue and I’ve spoken to leaders who are just not feeling like their normal selves. Many of their staff have been working from home for nearly a year now. Some have been furloughed. Others face uncertainty over the future of their business.

Some of us have also been ill. Some of us have lost loved ones. Finding the strength to not only be positive, but also to radiate that to the rest of our staff, can be a huge challenge.

The first step is accepting the fact that things aren’t normal, but also realising that we can fight against that feeling and rediscover the momentum needed to move forward to a brighter future.  

It’s about finding the energy to keep going. With most staff working from home, the vital energy that businesses naturally generated in the office can get lost in the absence of day-to-day physical group contact. Add to that the strain of parents who might once again be home-schooling, and the pressures are evident. So many of us are simply exhausted.

A good way to re-energise is for leaders to consider how they can emerge from this crisis as a stronger, more effective company. That not only means thinking about the year ahead, but also about the day ahead.

This latter point is embraced by Lego, a company which says leadership isn’t a position – it’s an act. “A way of doing things that brings the best out in people.” It pledges to create the space within its business “so that everybody feels energised everyday”.

That is what all leaders need to do. Can you reduce the burden on your staff so that they don’t feel overwhelmed and can find the energy they need? This may be about reducing long Zoom meetings or breaking larger projects into smaller sprints. It’s can just be remembering the social side, sharing stories and checking in on staff to bring them together.

But how do you inspire others when you may be feeling down yourself?

Everyone’s mental health and wellbeing has been impacted by the pandemic, so leaders must ensure that they encourage staff to talk about how they are feeling. And those working at the top shouldn’t be afraid to be vulnerable either. It’s not only about normalising these feelings, but also showing that perseverance, determination and positive action will get us through all this.

Many companies have adopted additional wellbeing techniques during the pandemic, such as no meetings over lunchtime or encouraging staff to get out of the house for a walk. However, leaders must ensure they are also walking the walk and role modelling the very behaviours that they are encouraging.

Your staff need encouragement, but they also need compassion. The benefit is that if you act as a compassionate leader, you will get compassion back from your staff. And that means that on the days where you might not quite have the energy to lead with positivity yourself, your staff can loan you some of their energy instead.

This isn’t a fight that will be won alone. Pushing the business forward is a team effort, so ensure you harness your leadership team and your employees to work together. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and we will reach it. I’m positive of that.