Employees nationwide are gearing up for a strike on Monday in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, and the occasional CEO may find their true activist coming to the fore. Scores of marketing staff and senior advisors will undoubtedly debate the act before getting to a detailed recommendation for the boss, but here are a few things for a CEO to consider before joining the Strike For Black Lives in walking, kneeling or being silent at 12:00 p.m. on Monday.
Substance matters. If you decide to participate, be sure you have something of substance to say following your activism. Hundreds of press releases have been issued, but they lack tangible commitments.
Know your audience. Employees (current and future), customers, peers and politicians are looking for leadership in this moment. With a few exceptions, that leadership has been lacking from all corners. This day, however, is about addressing the passions of your greatest asset, your employees. Their activism is growing daily, and if ignored will increasingly consume the agendas of corporate leadership.
Listen more, talk less. Active listening is the most valuable, yet least frequently used tool at our disposal. The esteemed Harvard Business School offers classes on the subject, but you don’t need a Harvard degree. Unplug and be present, come with concise questions, be open to fair criticism. If you view employees as your most vital community for engagement, you’ll quickly understand that like, in much of life, showing up is half the battle.
Act. A former CEO and mentor reminds me that leadership is quite simple - consistently do what you say you’re going to do. Do the hard work by meaningfully listening to your employees’ concerns, set clear data-driven objectives that differentiate your company and underscore your values, then model what leadership looks like in this moment.
This moment presents a vital opportunity for CEO’s to re-imagine employee engagement as community engagement. Make sure you’re a part of this change.