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Change Coaching Meaningful Work

Waiting For Calmer Times?

Most leaders are waiting for the ‘calm after the storm’. They believe that after the next reorganization or completion of the next project, things will finally get back to normal. But if the last few years have taught us anything, ‘calm’ is an elusive, if not impossible, reality. The only constant is change and how leaders navigate their teams through it is incredibly important.

Team members are dealing with a lot of obstacles right now: trust and confidence issues, adaptation fatigue and resistance to change, to name a few. And leaders are no different. Change and uncertainty can lead to all kinds of leadership issues. Often, the same challenges arise:

  • Leaders hesitate to take action and are afraid of making the wrong decision or saying the wrong thing.
  • Team morale starts to decline when team members feel like leadership is uncertain, reactive or disengaged.
  • Leaders themselves feel isolated and overwhelmed,unsure of where to turn for answers and support.

If you’re a leader feeling any of this, know that you’re not alone. More importantly—there’s a way forward. But how? A strategic investment in learning and development for leaders gives them the confidence to:

  • Maintain engagement through all the turbulence
  • Model calmness and clarity for their team
  • Drive innovation and productivity despite change and uncertainty

Leah M Joppy and Associates can help leaders, both new and seasoned, navigate uncertain times and be the clear, calm, focused and connected presence that every team needs. And our courses are designed to do just that. Here’s a link to our latest offerings: https://lmja.com/lmja-new-courses/ . From shorter 60 minute chunks to half day or longer, we have courses to meet every learning style and time preference.

Learn more by calling us at 301-351-9523 or email us at leah@lmja.com.

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Change Coaching Meaningful Work

Taking A Different Course Of Action

Change, at its core, is difficult for people to deal with, particularly when it’s not by choice. It challenges our sense of control, awakens our fear of the unknown and can compromise our values and principles. But understanding the psychological and emotional impact of uncertainty on teams is crucial if leaders want to be supportive and effective.

Right now, leaders have a choice:

  1. Continue to lead through uncertainty the way it’s always been done. Maybe this looks like reacting to challenges as they arise, trying to figure it out on your own and hoping for stability to return.

    Or

  2. You can learn to incorporate a new leadership approach. One that gives you the tools and strategies you need to navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Even the most seasoned of leaders can have difficulty navigating change, especially when it seems to be coming from every direction and team members are discouraged. That’s where investing in training can have a huge payback and help leaders build the skills necessary to deal with it all. Here’s a sample:

  • Learn Lessons for Yourself Before Leading Others– Strengthening emotional intelligence and defining your leadership style ensures you can lead with clarity and steadiness, even in uncertain times.
  • Design a Culture of Inclusion and Psychological Safety– Create a workplace culture that focuses on inclusive meetings, conversations and transparent decision-making.
  • Lead with A Vision, Not Just Reaction– Instead of constantly focusing on the fire in front of you, learn to communicate a vision for the future and handle change with intention.
  • Say ‘No’ to Perfectionism and ‘Yes’ to Adaptability –It’s not about waiting for perfect conditions. Effective leadership is about making informed decisions, staying flexible and adjusting as needed.

Strong leadership within an organization is important under the best of circumstances, but in times of uncertainty, it’s absolutely essential. As you think about your organization’s training needs for the next year, take a look at our latest courses: https://lmja.com/lmja-new-courses/ . From shorter 60 minute chunks to half day or longer, Leah M Joppy and Associates has courses to meet every learning style and time preference.

Call us at 301-351-9523 or email us at leah@lmja.com to learn more.

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Meaningful Work

What Makes Work Meaningful?

We spend the majority of our waking hours in the office, but how often do we pause and think about whether our job is fulfilling? Are the projects we’re working on ones that we’re motivated to tackle day after day? Turns out, purposeful work is a major factor in employee satisfaction and overall engagement.

The last few months we’ve looked at two other drivers of employee engagement: psychological safety and psychological availability. This month, we’re diving into psychological meaningfulness, the third big piece in the pie.

So, what exactly is psychological meaningfulness? It’s when team members feel motivated within their positions and believe they’re a part of something larger than themselves. For many people, the purpose of working might be about getting a salary, but we don’t find many saying that salary is what makes their work purposeful.

Meaningful work is one of those things that looks different for each of us. For some, a positive impact can be about grand goals, such as fighting diseases, bringing forth political change or saving the environment. But it can also be more everyday impacts, such as helping customers or making a client happy.

While meaningful work looks different for everyone, there are some common components that come into play. Here’s a look at the three C’s of meaningful work, along with questions leaders can ask themselves to see if they’re focusing on workplace purpose:

  • Community: Do team members feel a strong sense of belonging?
  • Contribution: Do they understand how their work impacts others?
  • Challenge: Am I helping them grow in meaningful ways?

If you give people purposeful work, you set them up for success and they’ll reciprocate by pouring themselves into that work. Look around your office. Are team members engaged in projects or just going through the motions? Are leaders actively communicating the impact of projects and why they matter? If you feel like psychological meaningfulness could use a boost in your organization, Leah M Joppy and Associates is ready to help. We can help your organization identify the root causes of employee disengagement and implement strategies with real impact.

Learn more by calling us at 301-351-9523 or email us at leah@lmja.com.

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Leah M. Joppy & Associates

Derwood, MD 20855