TPC Leadership Middle East are delving into the topic of workforce engagement. Over this blog series, we interview a number of TPC Leadership’s leading voices to explore their take on what more organisations can be doing to support their workforce and fundamentally improve performance in the Middle East.
In this second blog of the series, we talk to Biran Yilancioglu, Design Partner and Coach Training Business Lead, to get her insight into driving performance in your workforce by setting boundaries and having expectation conversations.
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“When we talk about effective remote working, there are two things to consider. The first one is work-life balance; how do you maintain work life balance when you are working from home?
And the second one is how to create a high performing team when you all are working virtually. Teams may not physically be in the same place, so let’s look at how organisations and leaders can build and support a team that is connected with each other even if they operate virtually.”
Why is the topic so important?
“This topic is very important in terms of leadership because first we’re talking about people, and people are the main ingredients of a high performing team. To achieve organisational goals and results prioritising the wellbeing of the employees is very important, even more so if they are working virtually.
As human beings, when we feel that we belong somewhere we desire to produce more, to hit our performance targets, and maybe even go above and beyond our goals. Since the pressures of working virtually during Covid-19, working from home or hybrid working is integrated in the running of organisations.
Teams can find it hard to set up the boundaries when working from home. The simple nature of not travelling to work can threaten to cross boundaries. The most common question that I get from my coachees and clients is how can they maintain a work life balance and still care for themselves?”
Why do organisations find it so challenging?
“Organisations may find it challenging to maintain the well being of their workforce and at the same time hit the company goals. The desire of driving better results and functioning at a higher level to ensure the organisation is accomplishing, can be overwhelming. Sometimes with busy agendas, leaders can lose sight of the well being of their employees. Ensuring well being in the workplace is not a new phenomenon but the challenge that leaders find is implementing change. The system is sometimes not able to support these kinds of changes.
This raises the issue of the system changing – and that requires a lot of work.”
What is TPC Leaderships’ approach to this business issue?
“When we work with leaders, we support the engagement of open conversations around expectations, boundaries and work life priorities with your team. I call this an expectation setting conversation with the aim of considering three things.
- Why is this important? What are we trying to accomplish and achieve with this conversation?
- How do we function successfully as a team?
- What does an effective and productive work life balance look like to us?
- How can we meet the needs of everyone in the team to ensure motivation and connection?
2. How do we need to be, to achieve the desired outcome?
- What is the level of flexibility that we need to have to support each other?
3. What are we going to do about it?”
What value can be created by this approach?
“The most important thing about this conversation is that it’s a dialogue, it’s not a monologue. As the leader, it’s not just you implementing your ideas on this topic – you have an obligation to listen to what your team needs.
This alignment with your workforce will create a culture for increased performance; if they know you’re making decisions to serve them, they will do the same for the company.
As a leadership consultancy company, TPC Leadership works with leaders, with their strategic and financial goals in mind, to better support their teams. Our approach develops the skills needed to create a flourishing working environment where well being is prioritised.”
What is the main takeaway?
“If you want a high performing team, a motivated team, rooted in the foundations of positive well being, you need to have these expectations setting conversations. It is fundamental to have an open, honest and non-judgemental conversation to encourage attitudes of resilience, inspiration and a desire to outperform.”
If you’d like to hear more about how TPC Leadership can support your organisation to successfully and sustainably engage their workforce, please get in touch.