Rethink leadership roles
The status quo tends to repeat itself when pain becomes normal. Changing roles, responsibilities, and relationship boundaries seems harder than the burden of staying the same. Although scary, the chance to hear fresh perspectives and generate new leadership energy may, in the end, fuel the system.
Reboot mission, values, and vision
Even if the edit is minor, the exercise of clarifying the “why,” “what,” and “how” of organizational direction establishes guidepost for the team’s next destination. Beyond crafting words to describe the team’s vision, regularly share stories of interactions with clients and colleagues that bring it to life.
Reexamine strategic priorities
Most of us feel like there’s not enough time in the day to accomplish all our goals. The needs seem larger than the resources. Triage is an effective way to break down the enormity of the task into manageable, bite-sized pieces. Whatever priorities clamor for the most attention, there’s always a first step followed by a second.
Reassign action accountabilities
Insight without action is merely an academic exercise. Once the triage plan is clear, answer the questions “WHO will do WHAT by WHEN?” and “HOW will we track our progress?” Once everyone on the team has taken ownership of their accountabilities, move forward together with transparency.
Renew commitment to the team
Alignment with leadership, vision, strategic priorities, and action accountabilities is the foundation for team trust, collaboration, innovation, and healthy management of change. Anything less than engaged commitment subtracts from the wellness of the team since time, energy, and resources get consumed in managing disengagement. Ask each teammate to verbalize their commitment to the new direction and follow it up with words and actions that prove the integrity of their promise.
These windows of opportunity open and close quickly. It takes another meaningful change to generate another cycle of renewal. It is okay if you miss your chance. The team already knows how to endure this pain. Staying the same while the world moves forward will eventually open a new window.
