Lead your tax team with inspiration (not authority)

More than half of all employees around the world are giving the bare minimum of effort to their organizations, according to Gallup’s State of the Global Workforce 2023 Report. This pervasive disengagement poses steep challenges to all managers and leaders, including those in tax departments.  

One of the most effective ways for tax leaders to improve employee engagement is by distinguishing between authority and leadership. Authority represents a position in the organizational hierarchy. Leadership is a skill that can be learned and continually improved to generate tangible results, including higher employee engagement and productivity, lower turnover, less burnout and more innovation. 

The value of those benefits has soared as workplace conditions have deteriorated, according to workplace research. A recent survey by human capital technology and services provider Alight finds that 34% of global employees “dread going to work or starting their workday.” And 31% of workers with high stress levels report that they are actively looking for a new job (vs. 11% of those reporting low levels of stress). Those findings square with Gallup’s study, which shows that:  

• 44% of employees globally experienced high stress the previous workday, tying the record high level of stress that materialized in 2021; 
• 51% of employees globally are watching for or actively seeking a new job opportunity; 
• Most employees identify issues related to engagement, culture, pay and benefits or work-life balance as improvements they would make in their workplace. 

Those and other factors make managing difficult in the post-pandemic workplace. Skilled leaders must adjust to managing remote and hybrid teams, fostering inclusive cultures, retaining top talent (as competition for the best and brightest intensifies), upskilling staff, mitigating factors that contribute to employee burnout and supporting employee well-being among other priorities.  

That’s where inspirational leadership can help. While that term may sound a bit fuzzy, it’s a tangible skill that can be developed and enhanced through practical actions such as: 

• Developing so-called “soft skills” like communication, adaptability, critical thinking, attention to detail and networking; 
• Influencing your team through clear communications, a shared vision and persuasive messages; 
• Addressing employee concerns with compassion when they arise and navigating interpersonal dynamics; 
• Owning your decisions;  
• Promoting and demonstrating the value of continuous learning; and 
• Reflecting on your own leadership style and identifying areas for improvement through feedback. 

Employee stress levels are high right now. By putting inspirational leadership principles into practice, tax managers can improve productivity and engagement while sidestepping the brunt of the tax talent crunch.