This article is sponsored by Axios HQ.
With hybrid work, rising inflation and lingering COVID disruptions making it harder to build a strong team culture, 2022 is proving to be one of the toughest years to lead an organization.
Why it matters: The stakes are high. “Data shows people who don't feel attuned with company culture are also highly likely to switch jobs right now,” Erica Pandey, Axios reporter, says.
“We need heroic leadership” to succeed, JP Fielder, BP head of U.S. communications, says. And it’s not just at the CEO level — it’s managers, directors and every leader in between who needs to reset the way they lead.
Here’s a cheat sheet to get started from Fielder and Blake Hall, CEO of ID.me:
1. Restate your North Star. “Whether you're in consumer goods or helping cure cancer, stakeholders and staff need to understand what you're trying to do,” Fielder says.
2. Revisit company values. “How can we define culture, not in terms of abstract values, like ‘excellence’ and ‘integrity’ — what Enron had on the wall — but by habits you would reward,” Hall says.
3. Evolve communication. Even hybrid teams are “social creatures,” Hall says. Build-in ways to scratch that itch — Friday town halls, meetings, off-sites — and evolve them as you grow.
4. Prioritize empathy. “Employees want to know there's going to be efficiency, even in big companies,” Fielder says. Set up ways for staff to work from home without sacrificing what makes office life smooth.
5. Celebrate stars. The people who live your values and drive strategy deserve a spotlight. That’s what makes it all “come to life,” Hall says. Nurture excellence as a day-to-day practice.
6. Seek feedback, often. Formal and frequent surveys can help catch issues and opportunities early. Hall says people are more likely to stay when they feel empowered and know they have a voice.
The bottom line: Heroic leadership — at every level — is about helping staff see what their company stands for and the values they need to succeed. Every leader's top priority must be stronger communication.
Go deeper: From exec to hero — what it takes to be a leader in 2022.
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