What Will It Take To Lead Effectively In 2024?

Building trust, fostering empathy, and embracing AI

 

Being a leader requires the ability to constantly evolve, based on an ever-changing environment. As we look ahead to 2024, leaders will need to focus on the following:

Rebuilding Trust

We’ve all heard the saying, “Out of sight, out of mind”. Working from home over the past several years found many leaders struggling to trust that the work would get done, without their daily oversight. As associates begin to return to the workplace, leaders need to work hard to rebuild trust. Whether the erosion of trust is real or perceived, leaders need to acknowledge and address it. Listening, communicating with transparency, and demonstrating empathy are three ways that leaders can help rebuild trust in the workplace.

Demonstrating Empathy

As mentioned above, demonstrating empathy helps to rebuild trust. Leaders need to demonstrate empathy and understanding as associates transition from working at home to returning to the workplace. If productivity was not negatively impacted while working from home, associates may question the need to return to the office. They may even question the rationale behind the decision. Leaders need to be empathetic to associates as they transition back to the workplace, and how this may impact their work-life balance.
 

Leaders should encourage open communication to discuss how associates are feeling about the change and validate their concerns. Leaders should also provide assurances that the return to the workplace is in no way related to a lack of trust.

Teambuilding

Dispersed work teams have led leaders to face challenges with team building. Leaders must now find ways to help build those bonds, which may have broken or frayed as teams worked apart from each other. New team members, hired while the team was working from home, may not have had the opportunity to make personal connections with everyone.

Incorporating team-building activities into regularly scheduled meetings will enable leaders to facilitate the creation of new bonds among team members, increase employee engagement, and help reconnect team members with the company culture.

Acknowledging the Role of Artificial Intelligence

The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace is inevitable. Leaders need to set the example and be the role models for acceptance of AI as a method to enhance productivity, without eliminating existing positions. Work collaboratively with associates to identify ways that AI can enhance current processes, to create efficiencies. Involving associates in identifying ways to incorporate AI will generate more buy-in and commitment to the idea.

As you look ahead to 2024, keep these four areas of focus in mind.

Author Bio

Lisa Reinhardt is the Senior Manager of Learning and Organizational Development at The CCS Companies, a national Business Process Outsourcing and Collection firm. With over 22 years of experience in L&D, Lisa has a successful track record of diagnosing, developing, and implementing relevant, innovative learning solutions aligned with business strategies. She demonstrates a passion and drive to help individuals and organizations reach their full potential and achieve their goals. Lisa’s dedication to the professional and personal development of others is her driving force.