A company’s leaders are the main drivers of change, especially when employees see them and follow their example. Unsurprisingly, this responsibility on leaders has only increased after the pandemic, making their role more important than ever. In fact, they’re also expected to link what employees are learning to business outcomes, and to create opportunities for them to apply whatever they learn from training.
However, research shows that leaders (senior executives to be exact) are seen as less effective when it comes to role modeling learning. Leaders, indeed, also have to learn how to be better leaders if they want their company to succeed further. During these times, leaders are now expected to do the following:
1. Adapt to Leadership in the New Normal
The ongoing pandemic calls for a different way of leading, and leaders must adapt to this change. Whether that’s learning how to lead virtually, or to oversee direct reports despite the long distance, or to manage remote working, leaders must be at the forefront of not just adjusting but also thriving in this new environment.
2. Build a Culture of Learning
Research shows that being intentional when it comes to learning is one of the top skills needed now. With the onslaught of new information available, success is now more about how quickly employees can keep up by growing and learning. And this skill should not be done alone, but should be cultivated as part of a company’s culture. If a whole organization is able to promote a culture that encourages growth and learning, then employees can become more engaged and satisfied at work.
3. Future-Proof Employees & Their Capabilities
Surprisingly, research shows that learning and development investments have either increased or not changed since the pandemic started — signaling that opportunities to upskill and reskill employees are still valuable during these challenging times. For training programs to be effective, however, they must be aligned to business operations and there must be a way to measure the program’s impact to the participants. The most effective training programs are those that can prepare employees for whatever can happen in the future.
Though 2021 remains as uncertain and volatile as ever, leaders who can rise up to the challenge and lead their teams to success will certainly succeed.