Being a leader during uncertain times takes unique skill and perseverance. We can’t continue doing things the same way we’ve always done them when circumstances change around us. Leadership is a skill that must be constantly developed and improved.
JeVon “JT” McCormick knows this well. He is the CEO of Scribe Media, a publishing company that helps authors write, publish, and market their books. More importantly, he is someone with an incredibly interesting backstory.
JT recently wrote a piece that appeared on CNN.com and went viral. It was all about remote working and how the workspace should look in this unprecedented season.
JT says, “the piece was written because I believe it’s a dynamic combination of remote and in the office. Some of our best work comes when we’re together collaborative, having the culture, being able to speak to each other, being able to get up from your desk and just walk over to the other desk or the other conference room and having a conversation straight off the cuff…I’m not saying that remote is bad. I’m saying it’s a combination of remote and office space. That should be the future.”
Truly, binary thinking is toxic. We can’t assume that there are only two types of people in the world. Rather, there are all different kinds of people and each one is unique.
Regarding remote and office work, there should be a dynamic combination of the two spaces. This is because some of the best work happens in collaboration. Being able to walk over to a co-worker’s desk and have a conversation is incredibly convenient and useful. However, there are also many benefits that come from not having to commute to work every day and from having the flexibility to leave for appointments and other events.
JT says that what matters is that you are driving results and getting your work done. That is the bottom line. If those things are being achieved, employees should be free to come and go as they please, while still having opportunities to collaborate with others in the company.
Leadership is also heavily rooted in culture. It is so important to create a culture where employees trust that leadership is on their side. This starts with the hiring process.
When many employees are hired, they don’t know what the company stands for or its principles and values. These aren’t communicated until the employee starts.
Instead, businesses should make the company values public-facing. With that, they’re building trust before employees are even in the organization. Once they’re in it, they see that the company actually runs by those principles and this builds trust.
Additionally, building trust is a two-way street and a relationship. It is integral that corporations take a collaborative vs. dictator approach.
I’m talking about these topics—and more on work, power, politics, money, the Coronavirus, and Black Lives Matter— in my weekly newsletter. I’m also sharing a video to help you think about your week ahead. You can sign up here.