how to lead your workforce through times of uncertainty.

One of the most valuable talents any leader can possess is the ability to stand up and set a strong example to others during times of adversity.

Unexpected crises - COVID-19 being an obvious example - underline the importance of business owners and managers being able to demonstrate strong leadership and help their employees deal with pressure and uncertainty. When your business experiences a testing time and comes out of it intact, the skills you have learned and nurtured during this period will set you up to succeed in the future. After all, there will always be new challenges for your organization to overcome and fresh opportunities to seize.

So what should you be doing to lead your workforce and keep your people well-informed and productive, even in the most difficult times?

be honest and transparent 

Your business is likely to face many tests over the years. Some will affect the wider industry and even the whole world economy, while others will be specific to your enterprise.

Whatever obstacles are in front of you, it's always best to be completely honest and transparent with your employees about the situation the company is in and the vital role every individual has to play in achieving success.

It's okay to admit there are things you don't know, for example, and it's vital to always give an accurate picture of how the business is performing. Managers being open and direct with employees helps to build trust, which is likely to prove crucial to performance when you're facing adversity.

Your efforts to embrace honesty and transparency could be supported by a bespoke communications plan for challenging periods. It has been argued that, when an organization and its workforce are under extreme pressure, there's no such thing as overcommunication. By supplying people with as much information as possible about the state of the company and the circumstances it's in, you get everyone on the same page and show individual workers how they can help the business make it through this time.

lead by example

Employees look to their managers for guidance on how they should be behaving and going about their work, so it's vital to set a positive example not just in what you say, but what you do.

The strongest leaders demonstrate the values they want to see in those who look up to them. In short, you need to lead by example.

One of the most valuable ways to apply this approach during times of business uncertainty is by embodying a sense of calm. You can do this by:

• Using clear, controlled language to get the right messages across to the workforce and provide reassurance for those who are worried
• Adopting rituals and habits that provide a sense of structure and support mental and emotional wellbeing
• Avoiding labeling certain practices or people as 'wrong', as this can lead to feelings of victimization and anxiety

leverage technology

Digital transformation has been a big theme in HR and workforce management in recent years, giving modern businesses more opportunities to turn technology to their advantage as they navigate periods of uncertainty.

One of the clearest examples of how tech innovation can help you be a better leader is in the ability to maintain regular contact with your employees, even if people are based in different locations or working remotely.

Videoconferencing and instant messaging tools make it easier than ever for people to stay in touch with each other, which is vital if you attach a lot of importance to collaboration and the sharing of knowledge and best practices. Strong connections between colleagues and managers at every level of the business could be the key to your success in the most challenging times.

be flexible in your leadership style

There are various leadership styles, which offer a range of potential benefits and results for your workforce and your business. Examples include:

• affiliative leadership: This places an emphasis on trust and harmony, which can help to ensure people feel recognized and included in uncertain times.
• coaching: A strategy that gives people meaningful, relevant goals to provide a sense of motivation and to drive engagement and productivity.
• visionary leadership: This style provides a sense of direction and togetherness by identifying a long-term goal the entire business can work towards.

When your company is facing uncertainty and your employees are looking to you for strong leadership, the ability to switch between styles and find the right approach for the current climate could prove vital.

Having this flexibility will enable you to set the right example for your workforce and help your employees raise their performance at a crucial time for the business.

build resilience into your strategy

One of the most important things any business owner can do to prepare for periods of uncertainty is to make resilience a fundamental part of business strategy. It's always possible that difficult circumstances - either foreseen or unforeseen - will arise and pose a significant risk to your organization, so it's wise to plan for adversity as thoroughly as you can.

Be proactive in your resilience planning and consider how you would deal with a range of possible scenarios. This will make you better prepared to respond to various challenges with speed and efficiency, rather than rushing to keep up with a situation that is changing quickly.

Building resilience in your strategy will also help you protect your core revenue streams and maintain brand communications during times of crisis. If you would like to learn more about how you can incorporate resilience into your business strategy,  download our guide.