Derrick Teal: Just weeks ago, federal agents raided a meat processing plant in Omaha, detaining dozens of employees. Similar incidents have shaken the roofing and agricultural sectors despite companies using E-Verify and employees having proper documentation.
This isn't about politics. This is about people. Employees might be asking themselves questions like What's going to happen? Are we going to go to war? Are we going to have higher priced foods? How do I take care of my household? And it's a leader's job to build stability, growth and clarity, especially when nothing seems clear.
This is coming from David Gray, the CEO of FedUp Foods, who cites the Stockdale Paradox, balancing unwavering faith in a successful outcome by confronting brutal reality. Great leadership means sensing unspoken fears. Managers become emotional sensors, listening, noticing, acting.
When teams feel seen, productivity and morale follow. People need to know that leaders might not have the answer, but there is a path and you will get through it. Because a plant isn't just machinery. It's people, it's lives. And leadership has to foster community using empathy and active listening to help employees feel seen.
And here's how leaders can step up. Train your managers to spot emotional stress. Hold open forums. Anonymous pulse-check surveys work well. Share clear, consistent messaging. "This is what we know. Here's our path." And four, create connection opportunities. Form daily huddles and do informal check ins. And in times of uncertainty, people want clarity, community and compassion. But true leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about guiding your team through the unknown together.
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