Good Leadership Means Empowering People

Right now, strong leadership is more critical than ever. As employees are uncertain about their personal wellbeing and professional futures, it is incumbent upon business leadership to reassure, to inspire and, perhaps most importantly, to empower. Years ago, Bill Gates understood this concept, as the co-founder of Microsoft said, "As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others." But what does this look like? First, put your employees first. Everyone in a leadership position, especially right now, should be proactively responding to the challenges their employees are facing on a day-to-day basis. And on a related note, don’t feel like you need to have all the answers. Good leaders will look to their people for the answers. People, regardless of title, are capable of great ideas, and there are powerful resources everywhere. Finally, encourage fun and flexibility within your team. Empowering people in virtual settings doesn’t always mean work. Consider virtual happy hours or having a lunch & learn over Zoom.