Soar to Success June 2021

I t’s true. Leaders do come in all shapes and sizes. But avocado? Here’s the “scoop” – and no, it’s not guacamole! An avocado leader is defined as one that is soft on the outside, hard on the inside. Empathy, authenticity, and adaptive leadership styles are all great, in theory, but in practice, the expectation for leaders can be unrealistic. Why? Because most leaders are incentivized by business metrics, including growth and revenue, and not by their level of empathy and self-awareness. TheCOVID-19pandemic has become a catalyst for leaders to more often display their ‘softer side. For example, during Zoom meetings, leaders have a better chance of getting to know their colleagues’ personally – learning about hobbies, home life, and preferred interior décor and meeting employees’ their pets, spouses, and children. Along with the rise of the avocado leader, the pandemic has created some positive effects. Research shows a 63% productivity boost, 57% better collaboration, and 55% improved efficiency (Jepsen 2020). Avocado leaders have helped their teams perform well during this tough year. They’ve also helped newly remote employees feel more included. However, employee burnout, mental health issues, and pushback from employees who value their privacy are just a few of the downsides that cannot be overlooked. By Lisa Ryan Employee Engagement and the Avocado Leader