According to my calendar, it’s officially spring, but you wouldn’t know it by the weather we’ve had here in Ontario lately. (A springtime ice storm? How Canadian!) Though Toronto was spared the worst of it, as I write this, some communities are still cleaning up downed trees and waiting for power to be restored. Wherever you are reading this, I hope you are safe and warm!
As I thought about how this storm played out in different regions of the province, it seemed like a metaphor for how fractured and polarized the world has become. We may all experience the same event, but we often experience it in vastly different ways. And this goes for just about everything, from current events to business to pop culture and beyond.
So how can we go about leading and creating change when it feels like there’s no common ground between us and our team members? Your instinct may be to sell, sell, sell. But to effectively lead your team down the path of change, you don’t need to sell your ideas. You need to build a bridge.
So how exactly do we do that?
The following three approaches can help you shift from salesperson to bridge builder.
1. Create a community of shared understanding. This is one of the strategies I included in my 8 Leadership Habits For Complex Times resource. One of the most important things you can do to lead change is to build connection with your team. Put yourself in their shoes. Listen to their concerns. When you know what’s on their minds and what their concerns are, you can start building that bridge to meet them where they’re at.
2. Anticipate objections. This is especially important when the change relates to hot button issues. Carefully consider your language and remember that your team may not share your beliefs. I’m not saying water down your message, just that sometimes you need to bring people in gently so they can hear you. The bridge you build will help them feel comfortable enough to listen to your idea with an open mind.
3. Prioritize vulnerability. As the wise and wonderful RuPaul once said, “Being in your head is all about worrying how other people see you. Let your real self come out.” When you allow yourself to be vulnerable and share your authentic self with others, you foster the trust and connection that helps you move your team down the path of change.
Evaluating Your Information Diet
With so much going on, it can be difficult to find the right balance between staying informed and information overload. And if you find yourself consuming every bit of breaking news and doomscrolling for hours on end, it may be time to evaluate your information diet. (No judgement! That was me until very recently!)
Evaluating your information diet isn’t about ignoring what’s going on. It’s about keeping the things you can’t control in perspective. Start by asking yourself some key questions. What does your information diet consists of? How much information are you consuming on a daily basis? How is it affecting your mental well-being?
This is something I discussed with Maurice Philogene on the Try Life On podcast. We also talked about how shifting your language can affect your mindset, the importance of building trust through 10% moments, and why you’re more change-ready than you think.
Listen to our full discussion on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.
Thank you for reading. I’m so lucky that I get to do what I do, and your support makes that possible.
Happy spring! Here’s hoping that all these April showers bring us some really spectacular May flowers!