The Corona period is tough. As a manager or entrepreneur you have to be strong at the moment. You may already have had to face hard times, but none of us have ever experienced this. The softening of the Corona rules gives us the impression that life and work are starting up again, but the real battle is yet to be fought. How much longer is this going to take? The enemy is invisible and no one knows when this will stop. In other words, there will be a tough period ahead in which strong leadership and hardiness will be essential.
Dear manager, how are you?
As a manager or entrepreneur, you are expected to keep it strong. You are, sort of, the captain on the ship and will stay on board at all times. Your people rely on you to keep things straight and make sure everything goes well. In other words, it is a heavy burden to bear. Therefore the question: How are you doing? More than ever, this question has taken on meaning. It is therefore important that you answer it honestly, both for yourself and for those around you.
Managers are only human beings and some people dare to forget that. It is quite normal that you do not feel extremely happy or strong every day. More than that, you can also feel sad, experience stress or worry. However, don't forget to share this feeling with your family and close colleagues. Ventilation will also give you renewed strength.
Leadership and Hardiness
"Hardiness" means perseverance, determination or toughness. It is a term that will pop up more and more within HR. Especially in the context in which we live now, this is an important aspect. Managers are confronted with a mountain of stress because of the changes that are coming their way, the many questions they face and the accompanying missing answers. You don't have to panic and walk away from that stress. Stress in an inevitable part of life.
For the sake of clarity, a hardy leader should not be imagined as a sullen leader with little empathy. On the contrary, good hardiness also implies a balanced emotional intelligence. An important part of the Emotional Quotient (EQ) is stress management. Think specifically of how someone experiences stressful situations (stress management), how someone faces challenges with the necessary self-confidence (self-respect) and how someone is and remains convinced that he/she can endure a difficult situation (optimism).
Leaders or entrepreneurs with a healthy dose of hardiness love challenges, feel that they have everything under control and are 100% committed. Challenge, control and commitment. Three terms that a strong leader needs today to look for innovation, new business options and all this with a smile.
Easier said than done
Of course, you are not alone in this process. Consult your family, fellow managers and team members. Talk to them about the future, ask for their vision and discover new possibilities. Do not shy away from seeking external support. Let experienced supervisors coach you.
Mentorprise has been the reference in measuring emotional intelligence since 1999. We use the EQ-i 2.0, a scientifically based instrument. By means of an online assessment of 133 items, your emotional intelligence is questioned. In coaching, we will try to strengthen your work points with the help of your talents. We can also coach you in the field of hardiness. Interested in a non-committal digital conversation? Take a look at https://mentorprise.be/emotional-intelligence or mail to eq@mentorprise.be to discuss this topic.
