Think Like a Leader
In our generation has there been a more difficult time to be a leader? At times like this you may be thinking about your own inadequacies and caught up in the emotional contagion sweeping across the world. Your mind may be racing as you try to think through an almost endless list of scenarios. Yet it is exactly at this time that others will be looking to you to know what to do next.
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Feel Like a Leader
Feeling panicked and overwhelmed is almost the natural state just now. Indeed, not having these feelings would make you less than human. But as the old proverb goes, ‘You can’t stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them nesting there’. When all around it will feel as if sensible, rational decision making is increasingly difficult, now is the time to be managing your own thinking. And writing your plans down will help you move from merely being feelings driven.
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Act Like a Leader
How to act like a leader in the midst of uncertainty is the subject of The Leader’s read, below. Mike Robbins gives a sensible list of things to do. I will just add one, so famous now that we almost have forgotten how important and relevant it was. Keep Calm and Carry On was a motivational poster produced by the British government in 1939 in preparation for World War II. The poster was intended to raise the morale of the British public. Well worth recycling.
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Sigal Barsade talks about the impact of emotional contagion stemming from the coronavirus, why it has the potential to greatly amplify the damage caused by COVID-19, and how negative emotions - particularly fear and anxiety - can harm our decision making processes.
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‘Leading in the Midst of Uncertainty by Mike Robbins
The coronavirus pandemic has created massive uncertainty in our country and our world. In the coming days, weeks, and possibly months, work and life as we know it will change fundamentally. And while there is no real way to know exactly what will happen, how long it will last, and what the long-term impact of all of this will be, one thing is for certain…things are uncertain and probably will be for a while.
Strong leadership is essential in uncertain times, and it’s hard. We have to be able to navigate the stress, challenge, and fear of the situation ourselves, and, in turn, support those around us as they navigate it as well. We have to manage diverse people, dynamics, priorities, and changes. And, in a situation like we’re in right now, so much is unknown and this whole thing is both unprecedented and evolving rapidly, which makes it even more challenging.
On top of all this, we are being told to work from home and practise social isolation, which means that just about all of our communication and interaction with those we work with and manage has to be done by video, phone, email, text, Slack, and other digital platforms.
A simple example of leadership in the midst of challenges I heard someone talk about recently is when we’re on an airplane. When we fly, sometimes we experience turbulence. Often the pilot will come on and say, “Ladies and gentlemen this is your captain speaking. We’re going to be experiencing some bumps up ahead, so I’ve asked the flight attendants to take their seats and to discontinue their service until we get through this.” When we hear this, we know that things are going to change and that we need to fasten our seat belts and prepare. When those bumps do eventually come, even if they’re significant and scary, we usually feel okay because we had some heads up and we know the pilot and crew are aware of the situation.
On the other hand, if we don’t hear that message from the pilot and the plane hits unexpected turbulence, it’s often way scarier and upsetting. And, if the pilot says nothing or comes on and simply tries to tell us that it isn’t that bad, that often makes things worse.
During these uncertain times, we want to be much more like the first pilot in this example, not the second.
Here are a few things you can do as you navigate things as a leader in the coming days, weeks, and possibly months while you and your team make your way through this time of intense uncertainty:
1. Take good care of yourself
2. Communicate constantly
3. Check in with people on a personal level
4. Be flexible and nimble
5. Be real
Click through to read the full article from Mike Robbins’
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A very recent presentation from Darren Hardy looking at the responsibilities of the leader in times like these. Reassuring, realistic and a good reminder – the show will go on, in some shape or form. And leaders will make that shape or form.
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The Queen Mary was launched from Clydebank in 1934 – four years after construction work began. Delayed by the Great Depression of the 1930s, a decade later she would see war service as a troop carrier.
Today she is berthed at Long Beach in California, a popular tourist attraction. This notice board can be seen on the upper deck, no doubt designed and located with the memories of the Titanic relatively fresh in the minds of both crew and passengers.
Looking at the ship’s website today there is an update about COVID-19, reminding us that crises are not new. However, while we may feel like abandoning ship there is nowhere to go! So, leaders, it is emergency stations.
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Leading in Times of Crisis, Navigating Through Complexity, Diversity, and Uncertainty to Save Your Business by David L. Dotlich, Peter C. Cairo and Stephen H. Rhinesmith Jossey-Bass, 2009.
Although written over a decade ago there are key contemporary lessons in this book. With a focus on complexity and uncertainty they write that unpredictability and risk are everywhere.
Consequently we can feel overwhelmed by complexity; too much information in too many places on too many levels. They say that what is needed are “whole leaders” who use their “head, heart and guts” to manage in challenging times. They use their head to research, analyse and learn. They use their heart to build “empathy” with others. They use their guts to act courageously and instinctively, and to make hard decisions.
Timely words for uncertain times.
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Tender Tough Leaders and Emotional Contagion #42
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...without a little reflection, there is no Insight Added.
“Anyone can lead when the plan is working. The best lead when the plan falls apart.”
Robin S. Sharma
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Lead well
Graham and Lesley
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