The COVID-19 pandemic changed our world. A new kind of leader is needed for it.
Existing models of leadership were already under strain. The proof? Seventy-five percent of employees said their boss was the most stressful part of their jobs.
COVID acted like a global pressure cooker, bringing buried issues to the fore. This is not an exaggeration — researchers describe the pandemic as a mass trauma event that will take years to heal. So what does this mean for leaders?
As people return to the office, they’ll be bringing with them the memories of lost loved ones, emotional troubles and financial challenges. Don’t underestimate the scope of them or assume people will recover overnight. COVID has shortened lifespans, increased drug use and quadrupled the rates of depression and anxiety. It has also spurred Americans to reevaluate their values and their jobs: 26 percent of Americans are planning to leave their employers.
Servant leaders — leaders devoted to making the welfare and growth of their people the priority — are needed urgently for the post-pandemic world. Here are five ways you can be one.
Be compassionate
Business leaders can’t heal the wounds of the 33 million Americans who had COVID and the 600,000-plus Americans who died from it. But servant leaders will understand that their people are struggling and will try to make work a positive experience.
Servant leaders will be kind. They’ll treat their people gently. And they’ll create a positive environment where their people can thrive personally and professionally.
Listening attentively to what people say is a compassionate act. Ask your employees how the pandemic affected them. You don’t need to have answers. Just listening is a gift: It builds trust, strengthens relationships and lifts the mood of the speaker.
Regularly ask your people about their post-pandemic recovery as the months pass. Some of them will need a longer time to recover. Asking shows that you care about them — a hallmark of a servant leader.
Be trustworthy
Servant leaders know that trust is the foundation of any successful relationship. But only a minority of employees trust their managers. In fact, 58 percent of workers trust strangers more than their boss.
As people emerge from their pandemic shells, they need their leaders to be sources of stability. To a servant leader, this means being competent and reliable, along with being compassionate and empathetic.
Your leadership decisions can create much-needed predictability and stability — especially for people who are unsettled and anxious. So, when faced with choices and trade-offs, try to choose what’s best for your team members. People are much more likely to relax into their roles when they believe their manager is protecting them.
Be patient
Studies show that people worked up to 30 percent more hours during the pandemic. The consequence is that up to 40 percent of the workforce is now experiencing burnout.
Servant leaders will remember this and give their people ample time to recharge and recover (this can take months). They’ll give their people the benefit of the doubt. They’ll assume they have good intentions. And they’ll let them adjust to a new world at their speed.
Servant leaders will occasionally need to advocate with senior leaders to lighten workloads and relax timelines. It’s not an easy fight, but most senior leaders will respect you for looking after your people during a difficult time.
Be inclusive
The issues of diversity, equity and inclusion have been simmering for decades. They reached a boiling point in many places in 2020. It’s now a pressing concern of returning workers.
Leaders aren’t expected to address systemic injustices or change corporate policy. But servant leaders will strive to make sure all their people feel included.
This means that they’ll create an environment of psychological safety where everyone can be their authentic selves. They’ll demonstrate a greater open-mindedness. They’ll make sure everyone is treated fairly. They’ll respect everyone.
Servant leaders will be particularly aware of the needs of people belonging to underrepresented groups. These individuals were feeling disenfranchised before the pandemic and recent social strife. Servant leaders will make a special effort to make sure they feel included, heard, valued.
Servant leaders will push outside their comfort zones, learning about the many new facets of diversity, equity, and inclusion. They’ll have a curious and open mind. They’ll be patient with themselves as they develop new inclusivity skills. And hopefully that patience and grace will spread.
Be accommodating
The return to the office is a key moment to be a servant leader. Some managers will feel uncomfortable about letting people work remotely because they can’t monitor them. But servant leaders will partner with their people to create schedules that suit everyone.
The pandemic showed that people could be effective working from home. In fact, productivity levels increased 5 percent during the pandemic for virtual workers at well-run organizations. This increase proves that leaders can focus more on output and engagement than on monitoring how busy people look.
The post-pandemic world is quickly emerging. It will be a new era marked by rapid changes, greater employee autonomy, and disruptive innovation. It’s a time that demands true servant leaders — leaders who will bring out the best in their people.
