In this bonus episode, LaTonya Wilkins shares a few key insights about how to navigate the U.S. Election results as a leader. She focuses on the importance of self-care, resilience, effective communication, taking care of others, and fostering a culture of belonging within teams.
Resources from today’s episode:
– Change Coaches Guide to Create Psychological Safe Conversations Across Differences
– Change Coaches Newsletter
– Leading Below the Surface LinkedIn Newsletter
Transcript:
00:00:00 – Are you wanting to close the year out strong? Our Change Coaches offerings include everything from retreat facilitation to leadership accelerators. Check out changecoaches.io for more information or email us at [email protected] to find out how we can support you and your organization in 2024 and beyond.
00:00:30 – Welcome to the Leading Below the Surface podcast, where we go beyond the book and explore how to navigate and thrive in today’s changing workplace. Hello everyone and welcome to the Leading Below the Surface podcast. I’m your host, LaTonya Wilkins, Executive Team Organizational Coach and author of Leading Below the Surface. Today, I’m doing a bonus episode around the US Election results. Although I’ll focus on the US, this has global appeal and will be a shorter episode.
00:01:09 – I wanted to share this because I recorded a video this week on LinkedIn during the week of November 4th, 2024. I recorded a video after many unexpected calls with coaching clients, particularly senior leaders, CEOs, and C-suite leaders who were unsure how to respond to the election results. This isn’t just about personal reactions; it’s about how to communicate with teams and what steps to take next. We will be doing a Change Coaches series around this, so keep an eye out for that.
00:01:59 – Make sure to join our mailing list if you haven’t already, as we’ll discuss this further. You can also follow me, Latanya Wilkins, and Change Coaches on LinkedIn for updates.
00:02:11 – Today is a short episode to help us prepare to lead through significant change. Whether you wanted this change or not, it will impact you as a leader. I will discuss some points from the video and will follow up on this topic in the future. Subscribe if you enjoy this episode. We will mix this content with other topics about Leading Below the Surface and leading in today’s environment.
00:02:51 – Many people have reached out to me via text, email, and calls. As an executive coach, I expected to help people navigate this situation. I also teach at Kellogg, Northwestern, and students are reaching out as well. Some are sharing personal thoughts, while others are asking what to tell their teams.
00:03:19 – I want to be composed and ensure we practice inclusion. I shared a story about my grandmother on LinkedIn, and I’ll give you a shortened version here before discussing two considerations for the next four years of our personal and organizational lives. In 2016, I felt stressed about the world, which motivated me to write Leading Below the Surface.
00:03:50 – My stress stemmed from focusing on things I couldn’t control and my dissatisfaction with leadership in organizations and their support for people and cultures.
00:04:12 – It was a challenging time as I was making significant life changes. My mom passed away in 2014, prompting me to reflect on life and how I wanted to show up as a human. However, I felt stuck and hopeless. During this time, my grandmother, who lived to 93, sat me down.
00:04:42 – At that time, she was in her mid to late 80s. She was direct and told me to stop it, saying, “Child, you don’t understand.” She shared the difficulties she faced in her life to improve ours.
00:05:11 – My grandmother made my life noticeably better. It’s not perfect, but I appreciate the life I have today, which is remarkable given her struggles. She impacted many people, working as a cafeteria worker and connecting with many kids in town.
00:05:44 – She experienced Jim Crow laws, which influenced her decision to migrate north to Des Moines.
00:05:57 – I grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa. My mom met my dad there. My grandmother fled Jim Crow laws around the time of Emmett Till. She worked for over 50 years in schools and was a hardworking American.
00:06:07 – At her celebration of life, many people I didn’t know shared how amazing she was. She experienced a lot and often spoke about Richard Nixon, world wars, and the Vietnam War. Her message was that we get through challenges, and if I remained in a negative state, I wouldn’t reach my full potential. That conversation changed my life.
00:06:27 – I developed a buffer when facing difficult situations. I changed my habits; I stopped consuming every piece of news. Now, I pick and choose what I engage with. I avoid trauma dumping and hot takes, as they trigger me.
00:07:04 – Why am I bringing this up? On Tuesday night, we learned about a change in administration in the U.S. and that there is much we don’t know about the electorate. I don’t want to delve into the political aspects as I’m still unpacking it. I approach this from a place of curiosity.
00:07:38 – As leaders, we need to navigate this by focusing on ourselves and then on others.
00:08:17 – First, let’s talk about yourself. Leaders often neglect self-care. Good leaders tend to prioritize others over themselves. It’s important to think about your needs while also considering others. It’s okay to put others first, but you need time for yourself too.
00:08:44 – If you often put others first, you schedule self-care time. You effectively manage calls and emails during this time to recharge so you can support others effectively. Many struggle with balancing self-care and caring for others, especially when their workplace requires more attention. Statistically, voter sentiments are divided, and uncertainty remains regardless of how people voted. Understanding the support people need requires time for self-reflection.
00:09:33 – As many know from Leading Below the Surface, personal belonging and listening are crucial now. We need to listen without an agenda, observe body language, and read the room. We must connect with emotions, which is difficult if we rush or focus solely on our agendas. Taking time for one-on-ones and asking your team what they need is essential.
00:10:04 – I asked my team what they needed. Some moved on, and that’s okay. Equity means providing people with the access they require. Regarding taking care of others, you don’t need to have all the answers today.
00:10:56 – I talked to some leaders, and they’re trying to figure everything out. This week, have one-on-one meetings and share a team message. The long haul will happen over time. We will also do community events to help with that.
00:11:17 – In the longer term, there will be tactical things to consider, such as how to communicate, what it will look like, and your philosophy around this. You need to create a culture of belonging and inclusion. There are many questions, and you may not have answers right now. As Toni Morrison said, there are years we ask questions and years we answer. This might be month to month, so understand and accept that.
00:11:51 – I want to wrap up by asking how you want to show up for yourself and for others this week. I will drop a link in the chat to sign up for our newsletter to join upcoming community events if you want to explore this topic further. Thank you for joining us, and I look forward to seeing you next time.