The COVID 19 pandemic is certainly giving us the opportunity to see how leaders perform during a time of crisis. It is also making us more aware than ever, the important role true leadership plays in supporting our society when uncertainty is the norm. We have all seen good and bad examples of leadership throughout the past month. If you are a leader, here are some of the guidelines that I am following to lead during this crisis that may also help inform your own leadership style:
Remain calm, continue to let your presence be known and reassure your team – your team will look to you to gauge their anxiety. Remember, during this difficult time team members will be hyper-focused on what you say and do.
Be clear, concise and consistent with your communications – Develop a small group to tap into to see if your messages are getting across. I sometimes believe I am being clear, but then hear that people are reading different intent into my messages.
Be decisive – during times of crisis, your teams are looking for a decisive leader. Have confidence in your decisions, but let them know that you will adjust as more data comes in that informs your decision making.
Be visible – how can you be visible during a time of physical distancing? Hold virtual meetings using a video function, check in more frequently with people and if you have the opportunity, visit people in their workplace and thank them. Either way, take the time to show your gratitude.
Assess your team’s capacity – make sure you are giving people time to disconnect.
Foster creativity – I am always reminding people to practice progress over perfection. Put diverse teams together and give them space to come up with creative solutions to problems.
Don’t forget to spend time on planning for the future – it is easy to get consumed during a crisis. You need to set aside time each day to think about the long term success and viability of your organization.
It is easy to lead when all is going well, it’s during times of crisis that you need to make the conscious decision to be a good leader. Learn from other leaders that you admire, your team is counting on you. What are some examples of strong leadership that you’ve notice since this crisis began? What challenges are you facing in your own organizations?