Leading and Thriving in a Hybrid Work Environment
What does it take to be a great leader and excel in the new normal of hybrid workplaces? Most certainly the world we live and work in are opening the door for leaders who are women to step out and bring a new balance of leadership.
For over 20 years, SHAMBAUGH’s Women in Leadership and Learning (WILL) Program and our eWILL coaching and development program have engaged hundreds of women around the world, investing in their leadership and providing tools, practices, and strategies to lean into their highest potential as a leader. Now more than ever before, we’re seeing an increased demand from women who want to engage in WILL, as they seek better ways to invest in themselves, reset their leadership, and create and champion a new path forward.
I celebrate and applaud all the women who have attended—and continue to attend—WILL. These leaders are building deep connections that represent true partnership, and are showing a willingness to roll up their sleeves and do the work that it takes to lead and effectively navigate the new workplace dynamics and terrain.
Below is a summary of some of the topics that we cover in WILL and eWILL. Over my next several blog posts, I’ll share more of these topics, and then drill down into each, providing you with actionable strategic advice that can get you started in each arena.
Effectively Influencing and Managing Up
It was already challenging to influence your boss and understand how to manage upward to get what you want and need—but when you’re both working in different places, it can be even trickier. Still, there are some tried and true methods that can help bridge the gap no matter where you (or your boss) are based on a given day. Start out by believing in your own worth, building support for your case via research, and avoiding assumptions by asking the right questions at the right time. Then, gather context through an open and honest dialogue, building on your boss’s responses to your requests by having some “what if” questions at the ready to steer back toward your goals when needed. Influencing and gaining the respect of others requires tapping into a range of leadership styles, from commanding and energizing, to humble, to decisive. Whether you take these steps face to face or via videoconference, they are very effective.
Managing the Burnout Syndrome and Work-Life Demands
If you thought you were burning the candle at both ends pre-pandemic, the last few years have likely made that seem like a relative cakewalk. Work-life demands have escalated across the board, particularly for many women. I described this situation in a blog post last June, and much of this still holds true a year later: “Many of the women we coach at SHAMBAUGH have told us that they are at their limit—stressed and sleep-deprived…Some are concerned about how they can keep their job, reputation, and visibility when working at home while their colleagues are in meetings face to face rather than virtually. Others are wondering if they can continue to do both what’s needed at home and in the office, and after having gained a new perspective during the pandemic, are asking themselves if the pull and pressure of their career is really worth it.” The fact is, though, that no matter how much you have to do, becoming “crazy busy” to the point where you become ineffective is a choice. Through self-assessment and other tools, women can learn to be more strategic in how they spend their time. They can also develop the self-discipline to prioritize, delegate, and let go of tasks that are not important and eat up their time, so they can make optimal decisions and manage the increased complexity both professionally and personally.
Leading More Strategically
I’ve often written about how to “show up strategic.” This is more important than ever in a hybrid work environment, particularly for leaders who must ensure that their tactics translate to those working remotely or half-in, half-out of the office. In a nutshell, showing up strategic as a leader involves not only having a vision and leveraging your relationships strategically, but also fully absorbing the context of your meetings and conversations so that you can make the most meaningful contributions. It also calls for not only having a brand but leveraging that brand through a personal brand strategy. This type of strategy can enhance your visibility, aligning with your leadership goals and unique value proposition. Additionally, leading more strategically requires honing and owning your executive voice as well as staying calm under pressure, the latter of which has become an imperative as we continue to face new challenges in the hybrid setting.
In future posts, I’ll explore each of these critical concepts in greater detail, giving you proven strategies that you can use to make these ideas come to life. Next month, I’ll begin by sharing tips in four more areas that are important for leading and thriving in a hybrid work environment: knowing and leveraging your value, leveraging relationship currency and sponsorship, effectively negotiating on your terms, and mastering your executive presence in a hybrid environment.
Contact me at info@shambaughleadership.com or link to SHAMBAUGH’s offerings to learn more about our Coaching and Development Programs for Women, including Women in Leadership and Learning (WILL) Program and eWill Virtual Coaching and Development Program, Accelerating Gender Equity, Inclusive Culture, and Fundamentals of Leadership in a Post Covid Work Environment. I’d be happy to speak at your company on how women can champion their life/career and lean into their highest leadership.
Rebecca Shambaugh is President of SHAMBAUGH Leadership, and Founder of Women in Leadership and Learning. Rebecca is a contributing writer to Harvard Business Review, the HuffPost, and a TEDx speaker. Rebecca has been featured on CNBC, Forbes, Training Magazine, and US News and World Report. She is author of the best-selling books It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor and Make Room for Her: Why Companies Need an Integrated Leadership Model to Achieve Extraordinary Results.
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