Over the last 20
years, our economy has seen a lot of drastic changes. Those changes have
affected nearly every industry operating around the world, leading to layoffs
and extended unemployment periods that have created uncertainty and struggles
for all.
The unmanned and
robotics industry is no different. We are subjected to the same ebbs and flows
of the economy as everyone else, while also dealing with the burden of having
to wait for regulations to catch up with what our technology is capable of on
the aerial side of things. Then there are government cutbacks, and small growth
for small business in a playing field that is still so very new. That all
translates into shaky periods for our industry, where no job is guaranteed and
where employees often have a chip of uncertainty on their shoulders.
Anyone can be a
leader when times are thriving and work is plentiful – but it takes someone
truly notable to lead, and lead well, during shakier times. And it is those
leaders who will nurture the strongest teams, and command the best of the best,
through both good times and bad.
So how do you become
that leader?
·
Lead with Honesty: If you want to be the type of leader others will follow, you
have to first earn their trust – which means always holding yourself to a standard
of honesty that is unimpeachable. Yes, there may be times when it is best to
keep certain details from your employees, but you never want to lead in a way
that has you lying to those employees. Don’t make promises you aren’t sure you
can keep, and don’t sugarcoat details when it is clear your employees know the
score. Be up front and honest whenever possible, even when the news you have to
share isn’t great, and you will build a team that believes in what you have to
say.
·
Lead with Compassion: Being a leader in shaky times is scary, and stressful, and
oftentimes downright frustrating. You can feel helpless, and in that
helplessness, you can sometimes become cold and bitter – a personal
preservation mechanism that has you shutting down in order to protect your own
mental well being. But a valued leader is one who resists that urge to shut
down and instead remains compassionate about the plight of his or her
employees. That doesn’t always mean you can make changes that improve that
plight, but it does mean you remain open to and aware of the experiences of
those working for you.
·
Lead with Wisdom: Being a leader isn’t always fun. It sometimes means making
hard choices and occasionally even being the bad guy. But as long as you make
those hard choices with wisdom and reason, you will still retain the respect of
even those who are most damaged by those choices. Layoffs happen. Work hours
get cut. And not every project will be approved. A leader who is leading with
wisdom doesn’t play favorites, though, and always defaults to logic and reason
when the tough choices are being made.
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