How great leaders build community in times of uncertainty
When I went to graduate school in clinical psychology, my experience was frankly awful. Getting into psychology programs at that time was highly competitive, but nonetheless the faculty seemed to think that somehow a bunch of losers had slipped through the cracks and it was their job to weed us out. Evaluation was relentless, feedback was almost entirely negative, the workload was ridiculous, and the teaching was often slipshod. As I said, it was awful.
Eleven students were admitted to that program in my year — 11 very motivated, qualified students. By the end of the first year, two of them had dropped out. They were no less capable than the students who continued into the second year and beyond. In fact, one of the two had been granted the most prestigious scholarship the department had to offer.
What differentiated the students who stayed from those who fell by the wayside? Of course I don’t know for sure. But I did notice that most of the students figured out very quickly that the only way we were going to make it through was to stick together. We complained to each other, we helped each other with the work, and we shared pizza.
You are probably not too surprised to hear that the two students who chose not to engage in those mutual support activities were the two who didn’t make it past the first year. They didn’t make themselves part of the community — and community was a big part of what got the rest of us through.
This post is the last in a series on how to lead in times of high uncertainty — like the times we are living in now. The previous posts covered four leadership behaviors: Connect, Inform, Guide, and Manage Expectations. The final behavior is Create Community.
4 leadership strategies to strengthen community during uncertain times
People rely on community in times of high uncertainty — communities where they can share values, rally behind what binds them together, and reinforce the elements that make them a unique group. Leaders who tap into important aspects of identity and community send a powerful message: “What we are doing now validates what we have done before; we can navigate uncertainty, adapt to change, and still be true to ourselves.”
Here are four key leadership skills to help you create community in your organization:
Focus on the company’s larger purpose. Most companies have mission and vision statements. Often, they hang on a wall somewhere and have little or no relevance to people’s work. This is a time to talk about them, repeat them, and explicitly link them to people’s daily tasks.
Create gatherings to build connections and have fun. When many people are working virtually, it is harder than ever to build a sense of community. Bringing people together in person is ideal, but well-designed virtual events can also strengthen community bonds.
Use pride in the past as a bridge to the future. In times of high uncertainty, people may feel that the organization has lost its identity and its direction. Reminding people of past tough challenges and how the organization overcame them creates confidence in what is possible now.
Reinforce community through symbols, rituals, generous acts, town hall meetings, etc. I know, T-shirts and slogans and enthusiastic chants can seem hokey and ridiculous. They can also be fun, funny, and cohesion-building. I was working at a consulting firm when the economy tanked in 2008. In the Chicago office, as we were struggling to help keep the firm afloat, we nicknamed ourselves “The Alewives.” Alewives are an ugly, aggressive species of fish that was invading Lake Michigan at that time. It was a funny, self-deprecating label that gave us something to laugh about in a very tough time.
The formula for leading through times of high uncertainty is: Connect, Inform, Guide, Manage Expectations, and Create Community. It’s about giving your people new ways of thinking, engaging their passion and motivation, and shaping new behaviors. If you’d like to learn more about how to make this work in your organization, contact me.
