Elevating mobility: Advice for global mobility leaders who want to reach a new level

Many of our recent posts have been related to trends that we have seen in 2021 and/or what we expect for 2022 as we look ahead. It makes sense. At this time of year, we come to terms with where we ended up with 2021 initiatives and look ahead to establishing strategic plans to help move our mobility programs and our own personal skills up a notch. As you focus on how to take yourself, your teams and your mobility program to the next level amid one of the most challenging business environments in history — where changes that impact talent mobility are happening rapidly — what should you be doing? 

Let's take a look at a few resources that help address those three areas: you, your team and your overall program.

You: Let's start with you, because this may have the largest impact overall. Why? According to a recent Gallup survey, 70% of a team's engagement depends on the manager. This Forbes article provides five specific things you can focus on to improve your mobility game and make a huge difference in how your team(s) function. What do better global mobility managers do? 

• create a shared vision
• improve their communication skills
• conduct regular status updates
• learn how to better motivate their team members
• delegate effectively

Your team: There are lots of fun team building strategies, and some of this may be helpful in developing relationships among your team, especially in a time when there has been quite a bit of "resignations" and "turnover." Building trust is critical with your team. In fact, according to this article from Spencer Stuart, "Trust is the foundation and precondition for team success." So "no trust, no team!" Most global mobility teams are relying much more heavily on remote working than they were and that will likely continue. Spencer Stuart offers six tips to build trust with teams that are working in a whole new environment compared to before the pandemic: 

• provide opportunities to build relationships
• offer networking opportunities for team members to share their capabilities
• speak the truth
• highlight successes
• encourage and model transparency
• admit when you don't know something

Your overall program: This may start with asking more questions, challenging assumptions and seeking feedback. Do you currently have a definition for a world-class mobility program? What do you see as the most important element(s) that must be addressed for moving your mobility program into world-class status? What exactly does your program need in order to reach world-class status? Whether that is a serious deep dive with the consideration of blowing things up to start completely over or taking a "gemba walk" to look for incremental updates to the program, now might be the right time to revisit, review and renew —  especially when it comes to your "mobility philosophy." Tap into a few of these posts to consider how to approach the process and where to focus:

• Is there something in Santa's bag for your mobility program?
  
• What are the key priorities for global mobility over the next two years? 
• Mobility is looking up: trends in mobility at the start of 2022

You can also lend your own expertise, knowledge and insights by participating in this short three-question survey. The "Give a little, get a lot" survey will stay open until Wednesday, January 5. Then, once we have the results compiled, we'll share it all back with you so that you can tap into some advice from successful leaders, directors and managers, and consider their advice on how to be successful in the year ahead.