Nicole Gallucci is an author and business and life coach who helps leaders and entrepreneurs align business and life goals with coaching, proven frameworks, and strategies for lasting success.
In times of economic uncertainty and what it means for business owners and employees, Nicole Gallucci advises that managers and leaders must help their teams recognize that they’re valuable.
Given the opportunity to reflect on individual strengths and accomplishments, sometimes by looking within your own organization you can build on an employee’s strengths, which will in turn strengthen the organization’s viability, as well. “We’re finding that an employee can help with their own retention by actually acknowledging their accomplishments and their strengths for themselves,” she says.
If management recognizes employees’ strengths, there will be less need to utilize external resources such as freelancers or consultants, she adds.
Gallucci mentions a client, whose biggest supplier is Home Depot, that had its head carpenter express interest in another department of the business: gaming. “Interestingly enough, they’re now adapting some products. It’s interesting to see how you dial back, say six months ago. Would you have had this conversation in your office? Would you have had to say to the carpenter, ‘We’re going to lay you off because we’re not as busy.’ Whereas now, it’s no.”
Giving your team the opportunity to rise to the occasion and work together, as opposed to shuttering the business’s doors is “unbelievably inspiring, unbelievably motivating. We’re solving bigger problems.”
We often look to leadership to have all the answers, yet opening the door for conversation amongst your staff can result in new opportunities and other avenues for revenue. “The last time I checked, leadership is not superhuman, and the best leaders actually admit their vulnerabilities and humanity—and have the most loyal followings when they bring everybody together,” Gallucci says.
Plant the seed with your employees, present the challenge, and let everyone ruminate. “You can regroup individually or collectively.” Sometimes, by having gone through the process of helping people realize their own purpose and value beyond their function, she says, “that’s what inspires them to realize and have the confidence to now say, ‘What if we do this and go out of outside of their… prescribed box?’”
