5 Leadership Essentials to Drive Relentless Change

Change brings along a whole baggage of nuisance when it interrupts our lives. It overwhelms us when it’s unexpected. It can be exciting at times, and still disruptive to what is familiar.

Over the last several years, we all became managers of change. Around the world, our reality was shaped by different global events, and what we believed to be in our control took a new form. Change can take us by surprise, and new stories take hold, waiting to be told.

Change is relentless. Whether it is navigating the economic uncertainties we face, embracing new technologies, implementing new systems, facing culture change, or managing merging remote teams, change drives us to adapt and lead others through disruption. The change we are referring to is the one that affects your life at work and the quality of your life at home. It is about the constant demand to drive more change, and the constant race to make it happen, survive it, and thrive with it.

Workplace change initiatives are failing in staggering numbers. Productivity and efficiency are paying the cost of emotional drain. What used to be a busy workday has turned into agonizing hours of unproductive meetings. “Disruption syndrome” is not ending. It is just the beginning, and our talent will carry the load. Yet through disruption, you can reengage in the meaning of work and life. Disruption can inspire collaboration, empathy, and a genuine interest in the human element during change.

Leading during disruptive times is about making a mindful choice to pause and rethink the way you connect the dots for others during change. The signs of conflicting priorities and decision fatigue are causing significant stress and burnout across generations, and at all levels of employees.

There is a serious need to change the way we lead and facilitate growth. Through our research and work with hundreds of managers for more than 20 years, we recognize the reliance of change on process; and what’s missing is a people-centered approach to change. People drive change. Talent is the differentiator for organizations that are driving disruption. We have identified five leadership essentials that are time-tested by our clients that can help you navigate uncertainty and drive your teams to the finish line. These five leadership essentials can unlock human potential during change.

The 5-C Model identifies daily leadership practices that strengthen the dial of influence during uncertainty. These tools are often forgotten because we are busy, and busyness is underrated. You are capable of driving people-centered change. What we need are intentional leaders that rise above the busyness and the gravity of overwhelming priorities.

When you inspire people to collaborate during change, they become determined to embrace shifting priorities and new technologies. They approach change with a renewed sense of commitment, and that determination can shape your roadmap for success.

The 5-C Model is about putting people at the center of change, so change works for you. During times of never-ending uncertainty and constant disruption, fear clouds people’s reality. Understanding where they are and elevating them to stable ground can be the game changer from turbulence to clarity. The more technological advancements we experience in this era, the more important it is to have authentic leaders that inspire trust and alignment in your organization. You cannot retain knowledge when fear clouds your judgment. You can retain knowledge and commit to become a champion of change when you feel safe, connected, and aligned to the vision for change.

To learn more, join me on May 21 at the ATD25 Conference & Expo for my session, Leading Change: 5 Leadership Essentials to Drive Relentless Change.