Three types of managers will emerge at the end of lockdown:

– The aggressive type: he’ll discredit the difficulties experienced by everyone by demanding a focus on performance alone: “no more twiddling your thumbs, I want everyone 100% on sales.” He will come out looking brutal and will be despised by his team.

– The avoidant type: he’ll pretend that nothing happened for fear of delving into the real issues, asking “How was traffic this morning?” He’ll look like a coward and lose the confidence of his team.

– The “sensemaker”: she’ll recognize recent difficulties in order to better move forward, saying “we are going to take a moment to share our experiences and use them to improve how we function as a team.” She will be seen as an inspiring leader and will foster long-term engagement in her team.

Sensemaking is a ridge between the two valleys of performance and serenity. Only by keeping your balance can you reach the summit.

By Adrien Chignard