One of the things I ask new hires is how they ask for help. Most of us were raised to try to do it all by ourselves. When I ask, I am really looking for an opportunity to talk about asking for help early and often so that our team can work together to get things done. It’s a lot easier to get help early than at 3 on a Friday for a Friday deadline.
I have been watching how leaders are managing the current turbulent and chaotic environment. When we are stressed, it’s so tempting to pull in and hunker down.
I have watched policy makers clamp down and try to control the chaos, controlling their teams with a steely grip on what data can be shared, who can talk to whom and when, keeping all decisions close.
It does control the response to change, but it also slows it down by not sharing information or innovation. It may protect the controlling leader in the short run, but not for long. Over time, the team is either slow to respond or so reactive they make big mistakes. It also fails to engage others in the common vision and action it takes to turn chaos into something manageable.
In contrast, our local foundation leader shared her perspective on how we weather the chaos in the service community, “We are doubling down on collaboration. We are working with our partners like the city government, schools, businesses, nonprofits and faith communities to support our social sector. By bringing people together, we can stabilize services, find creative solutions, and continue advancing the public good.”
By sharing information and ideas quickly collaboration can adapt, and test new ideas, and develop innovative response options. Involving others builds a community that can reach further, faster, and more consistently than an individual.
Who can you reach out to and partner with?
Best,
Julie
P.S. Need a boost? Take a break at my favorite beach.
