Start with Context

By Ellie Hearne

Leadership, communications, and culture - our sweet spots here at Pencil or Ink.

Since March, we’ve written about how organizations can best navigate uncertain times, how widespread remote working has changed how we communicate, how workplace culture plays out without an actual “workplace,” and so on.

But we'd be remiss not to acknowledge all that's happening at the moment.

The ongoing pandemic.

Political turmoil.

Climate fires.

The day-to-day reality of life in 2020 add up to unprecedented stress and anxiety for many if not all of us. ⠀
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Each leadership decision, feedback conversation, and culture initiative is happening in that context.⠀
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To do well - or simply to do right - leaders must acknowledge and adapt accordingly. ⠀
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Sometimes, that means checking in to ask more than a bland "how are you getting on?".

Others, that might mean changing course and adding or subtracting from workloads or meetings - or shifting focus altogether.⠀
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But it always means taking into account the human side of business.

People are the core of all companies, and successful ones start and end with that knowledge.⠀

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Ellie Hearne is a leadership-communications expert and founder of Pencil or Ink. She has worked with Apple, Google, Kate Spade, Marriott, Mastercard, Morgan Stanley, Oracle, Pfizer, Piaget, Spotify, Starbucks, and Twitter, among others, and has coached numerous individuals and teams. Learn more about Ellie and Pencil or Ink here.