Seven Lessons Managers Can Learn From Biden's First Day As President

Here’s how he handled the transition

The transition between the 45th to 46th Presidents of the United States was anything but simple. Emotions ran high, divisiveness peaked, and anxiety filled the air. That backdrop is often what leaders, managers, and employees experience in their own work environments on a microlevel. Change in the workplace is common, and the challenges that accompany often trigger undue stress on workplace culture. Day one of the Biden Presidency took nothing for granted, and he swiftly set the tone for his team. There are seven key lessons that we can benefit from by observing how he handled the transition. 

1. Define crystal-clear expectations
No sugarcoating, no exceptions, stay aligned to your values. Transparency about what will happen when expectations are not met. Biden established the standard by rapidly signing executive orders that would advance policy and make a strong statement about the direction of his presidency. The new administration got the message loud and clear when President Biden also put one simple rule in place: Attacking each other will be a fireable offense for his team.
 

We cannot possibly have all the answers alone, and President Biden was strategic in his appointment of leaders from diverse backgrounds to serve on his team and to lead key federal agencies. There were many firsts set by his administration on day one including the first female, Black, and Asian American Vice President. Biden also went on to select the first Black American to serve as the head for the Department of Defense. 

3. Be an empathetic listener
People want to be heard. You do not need to fix everything at the moment. During the pandemic, there is a significant amount of the workforce struggling with stress, anxiety, and mental health. Empathy is needed now more than ever before. President Biden set the tone for his administration with declarations of kindness, unity, and compassion for the millions of Americans facing the greatest challenge of their lives. 

4. Show your human side by modeling vulnerability during uncertainty
This normalizes the fear, overwhelming environment, and big emotions we are all feeling. It lets people know they are not alone. Leaders, managers, and employees must all feel safe to be vulnerable right now or they will end up storing this experience as grief that turns in to trauma. That framework is the first step in helping his team to know that vulnerability will be valued over critical attacks.

5. A commitment to getting it right
An acknowledgement that mistakes will be made along the way. Leave perfection behind but set the team up for success. This major adjustment became noticeably clear with President Biden’s commitment to science. On day one he elevated the Office of Science and Technology Policy leader to a cabinet-level position. He moved quickly to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and declared that science would inform his decisions on the battle with Covid-19. Providing our teams with the training, tools, and experts that will set them up for success is also the key to getting it right.

6. Create a culture of learners rather than knowers
This is the first step to trusting teams and wholehearted workplace engagement. People do not feel they have to hide mistakes or figure things out on their own. Biden’s humble approach to leadership was the key to setting the tone on day one. As leaders and managers, we understand how important it is to demonstrate a servant’s heart with a humble posture for our teams. Modeling curiosity and a passion for personal growth will encourage others to seek the same in their own careers.

7. Transparent communication
President Biden’s declarations on day one matched what he had been saying during the entire campaign. There were no surprises and no misunderstandings about priorities. There was no questioning why it matters because his message had been consistent all along. That level of transparent execution created an instant level of trust and belief in his integrity as a leader when he followed through. Corporate stewards have the same imperative of transparency if they want to build successful teams. Congruency in communication and execution will build the trust needed to excel in any environment.

The next four years will reveal the true path of the Biden Presidency, but politics aside we can already learn from his journey. President Biden had a lengthy career in public service before ascending to the nation’s top position, so we have some existing ideas about his leadership style. That can often create its own challenges for managers and employees that elevate to leadership roles on their previous teams. That dynamic made it especially important for him to display radical authenticity. We can learn a great deal from his first day in the office and with the pandemic related strains on work culture, this is the perfect time to put those lessons into practice. 

Pam Ryan is the CEO and Founder of Better3 Executive Leadership Development and Certified Dare to LeadTM Facilitator with an extensive background in education, learning and leadership development, process improvement, and strategic planning spans both the private and public sectors. Visit www.bettertogethercubed.com Follow @Better_cubed Connect Pam Ryan