Trying to Deliver Corporate Change? Care for the Frontline Leaders

• In Event: Leading Through Complexity and the Role of LMX: Responding to Changes in the 21st Century

Short Description

In today’s work environment encompassed by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity—known as VUCA—organizations are guided by the frequently changing strategic vision of Chief Executive-suite (C-suite) leaders. Once the vision is set, mid-level managers are responsible for deploying the change effort throughout the organization, and the frontline leaders often themselves sandwiched between the senior leadership pushing the change, and the uninvolved workforce who must execute and deliver. To achieve successful strategic change, an organization must fully engage frontline leaders. This presentation will explore the findings of a 2022 grounded theory study aimed at understanding the positionality and needs of the frontline leader during change.

Key Takeaway 1: How frontline leaders are the driver of employee engagement and corporate change success.

Key Takeaway 2: Why frontline leaders view themselves as autonomous professionals who are devoted to protecting their teams.

Key Takeaway 3: How bosses can support frontline leaders by taking four simple and purposeful actions: Clarifying roles and trigger limits, urgently providing required resources, making time for 1:1 meetings, and displaying empathy.

Streams and Specialties: Business Leadership - How are we building and strengthening business leadership capacity for the VUCA world?

Participant

• Bonnie A. Curtis, Golden Spike LLC CEO
  Presenter