Leaders, Stop and Listen
Stop and listen to what's happening in the country and in your company.
Companies don't have "values" for the good times. Often the statements sit on a wall and become trite or meaningless. New employees roll their eyes at the platitudes on the poster that may be deeply felt by the Co-founders, but it was hard to transfer to newer employees.
Google used to have a mantra "Don't be evil." Simple and trite, but internally it became a shorthand touchstone for employees. No more.
Your values should be about what you do:
How you make decisions.
How you prioritize.
How you treat people.
I've always believed those that said there was a difference between management and leadership. Management is about planning and organizing the work of people and systems.
Leadership is about making a difference.
Paradoxically, I think one of the best things leaders can do during uncertain times is to stop and listen. Hear what your employees are saying and why. Understand their fears and motivations.
It's so frustrating to see the lack of progress in certain areas of society that still have such institutional resistance. It's so frustrating to talk to friends who own small businesses who just opened a few days ago after months being out of business due to Corona, only to close again for fear of their and employee safety.
No matter what your beliefs, I encourage everyone to use your voice to not only express your concerns, but start to align around solutions.
They are out there. These problems are difficult but over the long arc of history, not intractable.
If we think about more than what can happen in just the next month, progress seems more achievable.
