Leaders have had their fair share of challenges in the past couple of years. Only a decade ago, it was standard to drive up to the office early to beat the morning rush hour. Now, people are rolling up to work in their pajamas at a desk that’s located in their house. It’s been a game-changer for everyone, especially managers. With the ever-evolving expectations of employees, how can one keep up? Obviously, not everybody is working remotely, but the idea is that not everybody is satisfied with the cookie-cutter 9-to-5 job. People have adapted to new ways of working and it can be difficult for managers that have grown accustomed to their ways.
Here are some challenges that business leaders face in 2022 (and how to beat them):
Bringing vision, while managing expectations
The best leaders aren’t always realists. It takes someone with big ideas to execute big ideas. However, without a strategic roadmap to that success, there is going to be a continuous cycle of disappointment that impacts the overall morale. The best way to start something new is to reflect on data from the past. It’s also important to aim high while understanding that achieving these goals typically isn’t worth burning out your team. Understanding the boundaries you’re working within can make all the difference.
Staying in touch with employees
Staying “in touch” is more than just actively communicating. It’s actively listening. Many leaders love the idea of spouting wisdom and serving as an inspiration to their subordinates, but they fail to realize that their team is living out a totally different narrative. This job may not be the most important thing in their life. That’s okay. Figure out what IS important to them, because once you do, you will be able to cultivate an environment that is more inclusive.
Finding talent
No surprise here. The news (and LinkedIn) is always talking about it. Hiring is a major challenge across all industries. Millions of people in the job market coupled with the fact that many people are unwilling to return to an office grind is making the talent hunt difficult and strenuous. It has forced leaders to challenge their own idea of what the ideal candidate actually looks like. Sometimes that means using a recruitment firm (like us) to pull from their specialized database. It can also mean that you need to refine your hiring process. It could also mean that you need to be less rigid during the application process.
Staying hybrid
Not every company has made the investments to maintain a seamless hybrid environment for employees that are dispersed in location. The world is getting smaller and smaller, so when leaders don’t adapt to emerging technology, issues quickly arise. Switching over to more digital technologies can enable your team to grow faster and accomplish more.