DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 20, 2023 / In times of crisis or uncertainty, it's more important than ever for leaders to step up and keep their organizations moving forward. But how can leaders do this when the future is so unpredictable? Raj Kalyandurg, a Dallas-based private wealth advisor, leverages his 25 years of experience to share insights and learnings on how leaders can ensure organizations continue to advance against their goals, even in unprecedented times.
Open lines of communication
It may be a common saying, but it's true - communication is key. When things get tough, it's crucial to keep people informed and calm. Being open and reliable is essential for leaders to assuage the concerns of various stakeholders - including employees, clients, and partners - while instilling confidence in the plans and vision for what's next. To accomplish this, leaders must be transparent about the ongoing situations and thoughtful in how they share information to ensure it is not misunderstood or creates additional angst. Just as important as what is said, it is also crucial to take time to listen. Especially in times of uncertainty, a strong leader should always be approachable and willing to listen and respond to any worries or doubts.
"Leaders should try to align their communications style with the needs of their team and stakeholders," says Raj Kalyandurg, who was Chairman of the U.S.-India Chamber of Commerce in 2020. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, we moved a lot of our programming to the digital space, including hosting happy hours virtually so that people could continue to network and mingle. While I really value in-person meetings and side-by-side collaboration, this shift empowered me and the Chamber to stay connected with our members and provide value, even in a challenging time."
While virtual happy hours are not a long-term solution to maintaining open lines of communication with your team, they are an example of how companies and leaders adapted communications and engagement approaches during an unprecedented time. Leaders should always be thoughtful about which communication formats and styles will be most effective within their teams.
Resource allocation
In addition to communication, leaders also should embrace the opportunity to rethink and realign their organizational resources against their new realities. Whether that is reorganizing workloads, revising growth strategies, or retooling programming, leaders must show that they not only understand what is needed, but are equipped to make the necessary pivots to bring solutions to fruition.
"During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the Chamber's members were facing serious financial and payroll challenges. By rethinking how we could best leverage our relationships, we were able to connect our members to third-party resources and experts that helped them acquire PPP loans," says Raj Kalyandurg. "This was a critical lifeline for many of our members, and it wouldn't have been possible without our network of partners and resources."
Resilience
Lastly, leaders should show that they're tough and hopeful when things get rough. According to Raj Kalyandurg, "It's vital to keep believing in what you're doing and remain optimistic, even when you're not sure what's coming. This attitude can rub off on your team and encourage them to stay upbeat and on track, no matter what challenges arise."
The responsibilities of leadership only grow in times of flux and uncertainty. By focusing on clear communications that can be trusted, leveraging resources to create value and displaying steadfast resilience in the face of the unknown, leaders can be better equipped to guide their teams through the storm and to new opportunities.
Contact: Andrew Mitchell, [email protected]
SOURCE: Raj Kalyandurg