Have you ever felt a little off balance at work? Since 2020, our world has been changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. So in this CityLead session, we’re talking about how to handle the disruptors caused by the pandemic, in both life and in business.
Disruptors Coming out of COVID
1. Urbanization
Lately in cities such as Chicago, though huge apartment buildings are being built and people are moving in, companies are leaving. But where there are people, there are opportunities.
2. Economic Stability vs. Global Realities
Whether it’s production delays due to COVID restrictions in other countries, shipping delays caused by cargo ships getting stuck in the Suez Canal, or a shortage of grain due to the war in Ukraine, global issues can have an effect on our day-to-day business. We must remember things will change and the world will move on. The question is: will you and your company shift with them, or remain stuck where you are?
3. Mature Workers vs. Young Workers
In older generations, people chose a career and stuck with it forever. Now, the younger generations see a vocation as a journey rather than a destination. This means there is greater flexibility in the job market as younger people move to different job and career paths.
4. Remote vs. In-Office Work
According to a LinkedIn study, the majority of workers now prefer to work remotely, at least part of the time, with only a small minority saying they would rather work in-office all the time. With this new reality, here are a few things to consider: If all or part of your team works remotely, you have to work doubly hard to fight against a sense of isolation among your team. You also have to find creative ways to build and maintain trust. You also have to take emotional intelligence into consideration, and understand it can be harder to read tone and emotions over text, email, and even Zoom calls. As the leader, you must make sure your expectations are clear—over-communicate so team members know how they are expected to perform. Lastly, when your team is remote, you can no longer walk around the office to check in on them. You must learn how to lead from a distance.
Much has changed in the last few years. But if we focus on building relationships, and working together, we can ride the waves of change and come out stronger on the other side.
If you would like to see more CityLead content like this or are interested in hosting your own CityLead gathering, contact cameron@citylead.com for more information.
