What is this New, Different Hybrid World?
We like to say Covid has created a new normal. But I argue that this is a new different and E3 Leaders are posed to Excel in this ‘New, Different Hybrid World’. There is nothing normal about the workplace anymore. It is different for every company and every person. As a result, we need leaders who understand this and have the capabilities to drive success remotely.
An E3 Leader is someone that knows how to get things done by connecting to the hearts of others. They know how to influence change, build trust, retain their employees, and deliver results remotely. E3 Leaders create a high-performing culture by leveraging the E3 Framework and E3 Emotional Qualities. The benefit of embracing the E3 Leadership capabilities is that they work well in a face-to-face environment and even better in a hybrid environment. An E3 Leader knows that work is not all business, it is extremely personal and takes that extra effort to connect to their team.
E3 Leaders deliberately focus on these E3 elements to excel
- Employees’ WIIFM – E3 Leaders connect with individuals to understand what motivates them individually, within a team, the company, and their community.
- E3 Emotional Qualities – E3 Leaders dig deep and allow themselves to be vulnerable and elevate their abilities to be aware, authentic, courageous, empowering, curious, grateful, enabling, inspiring, empathetic, and truthful.
- E3 Framework which includes:
- Expression – E3 Leaders think idealistically and clearly articulate the vision and purpose at every level: personally, for the team, for the project, for the company, etc. They paint the picture of the destination, the boat that will take them there and why it matters.
- Engagement – E3 Leaders focus on understanding how others interact, how they learn, and how they make decisions. They then adjust their communication style to include everyone. They ensure everyone is in the boat, rowing together and having fun.
- Execution – E3 Leaders focus on providing guidelines, accountability, transparency, measurements, and rewards to drive progress. They consult the map and check in to ensure they reach the destination quickly and safely.
Change is here
This ‘New, Different Hybrid World’ mandates that we work harder and more deliberately to connect to other people. Gone are the days when we could simply go out after work and grab a beer with the team to let off steam. Gone are the days when you have your full team in a conference room collaborating on a project. Gone are the days when you can see an employee putting their heads in their hands, the tears in their eyes or the stress in their shoulders and know something is wrong and be able to confront them immediately.
Leaders need to ensure they are hyper-aware, that they are asking difficult questions, proactively engaging with their teams, and providing space for personal things. To do this, a leader needs to be vulnerable. They need to put themselves out there first, to build the trust to let others do the same. Leaders that do this are E3 Leaders.
Succeeding in this ‘New, Different Hybrid World’ requires leaders to work harder and more deliberately to connect to their teams. This is why, E3 Leaders who understand the employee’s WIIFM, and leverage the E3 Emotional Qualities and E3 Framework are poised to excel in this ‘New, Different Hybrid World’.
