The year 2020 may prove to be one of the most challenging of our lifetimes.  COVID-19 has changed our daily lives in ways that we could have never imagined.  The act of juggling professional and home responsibilities during a pandemic has been overwhelming for employees and leaders to say the least.  The obstacles seem endless, yet we must rise to meet them every day.  When combined with the painful racial injustice that we have witnessed over the last several months we find ourselves feeling emotionally exhausted.  Yet the wheels of our businesses continue to turn.

And as tired as we may feel, this is a moment of truth for leaders.  What is needed in this unprecedented time to support a team and move an organization forward?   I believe it is compassionate leadership.  It starts with the simple act of caring and leading from the heart. Taking the time to have meaningful discussions with employees and teams about how they are doing provides tremendous support for them at a time when they need it but also valuable insights for leadership.  It also builds trust and deepens engagement.

This is a time for active listening – learning about what works and what doesn’t work in our organizations.  It is an opportunity to engage in meaningful change inside our companies and to build an environment that empowers employees to play a role in that change. Encouraging feedback and empowering employees to contribute and participate in this process may strengthen their commitment to not only the company but to their leaders as well.  It also serves to build future leaders and can have positive impact outside of your organization.

This is a time to learn more about the world around us.  By trying to understand the depth of the pain and anger our employees may be feeling as a result of living with systemic racism, we will be more prepared to provide employees with the support that they need and will value.   We can become stronger, more educated and more connected leaders by actively broadening our own perspectives and becoming more culturally competent. Through frank and sometimes difficult dialogues about race we gain a better understanding of our team members, our existing challenges, and the work that lies ahead.

This is a time for introspection -time for us as leaders to take an honest look in the mirror and decide if what we see is what is needed in this moment. We are all capable of meeting this moment if we lead from the heart.   Humility, empathy and optimism are a powerful combination for leading a team through a crisis but also for helping them to see what is on the other side, where the future can and will be much brighter.

Julie Smith,
Chief Administrative Officer, The Bozzuto Group
Vice Chair, ULI Washington

In ULI Washington’s new Leadership Insights column, ULI Washington will regularly feature member leader’s thoughts and insights as we adjust personally and professional to a “new normal.”