In July, I wrote a piece on our changing workplace landscape and the qualities that a leader needs to succeed in 2021. As Covid restrictions eased, it became clear that resilience was a key theme for organisations dealing with sudden upturn, and it has rapidly become a prerequisite for today’s leaders.
As a leader, I know it’s not always my role to find solutions but to listen and help people discover the answers themselves. Such discovery is integral in building resilience, both in and out of work.
Through my work as a Samaritan, I understand the value of coping strategies when it comes to building resilience. While we don’t always have the power to stop things from happening, we can learn how to cope and adapt to find a way through. It’s why I believe that the best thing leaders can do is apply their experience and insight to help employees deal with any challenges they may face.
I was keen to get further insights from members of the Omni leadership team on the qualities they believe make a successful leader in 2021. Confidence was flagged by our Head of Business Improvement, Helen Peers: “One of the biggest lessons we learned from the 2008 recession was that tough decisions need to be made quickly. During the pandemic, successful leaders were those able to consider all of the options available to them, understand the human impact of the situation and people’s anxieties, and seek out support from their teams to ensure the right decisions were made quickly. At the same time, they were still required to recognise and capitalise on any opportunities that arose.
“For Omni, the mental health of our team remains paramount, particularly in the face of challenging circumstances both professionally and personally. Open and transparent communication and frequent check-ins with our colleagues to ensure they are coping is something our leadership team continues to take very seriously.”
For Mike Sixsmith, Director of Client Solutions at Omni, strong leaders must have courage in their conviction and stick to the task at hand: “Leaders, especially when faced with uncertainty, will constantly be questioned as to whether they’re taking the right course of action. Rather than drop things and change course, they must take onboard external insights while still applying the confidence they’ve gained from years of experience that the organisation will emerge stronger in the long run.
“It all ties in with the message of resilience. Leaders today require a high level of personal and mental toughness. They must be good listeners to acknowledge different viewpoints whilst remaining in control and focused on the end goal. All of this needs to be done with a cool head and an awareness of the risks involved.”
Omni;s Head of Assessment, James Crichton has vast experience assessing the skills and attributes of leaders across multiple sectors and heralds authenticity as important for success: “Honesty and openness have always been hugely important. Employees need to know the reasons behind decisions and how they fit into the bigger picture. Some of the best leaders I’ve worked with have been able to admit when they don’t know something or when they are wrong. Such self-awareness and humility can develop with experience of facing different challenges and it means listening to different viewpoints and seeking expertise in areas outside their remit.
“Clear direction is another crucial element of good leadership. It requires an ability to link the end goal with day-to-day operations and vice versa. Some leaders can do one but not the other, but it’s this simultaneous approach that’s fundamental in gaining employee buy-in and achieving organisational success.”
I’m often asked whether being a good leader can be taught or if it’s something innate in people. I firmly believe that if you are willing to listen, have the emotional intelligence to understand the impact of decisions on people and the confidence to make changes , with the right support and development you can become a great leader. And, as the last 18 months have proven, even those at the top of their game must continue learning and adapting if they want to effectively lead people into this new era of work.
Key Challenges in the Road Ahead…
In our guide, ‘The Talent Acquisition Odyssey: Key Challenges in the Road Ahead’, we delve into some of the main pain points and areas of focus for TA teams right now. We also explore why there is now an increased reliance on external recruitment partners and the significant value they can add to organisations looking to grow and thrive in 2021 and beyond.
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