Think Like a Leader
Legendary film producer Samuel Goldwyn once said, “Only a fool would make predictions — especially about the future." And at this time, slap bang in the middle of Covid-19, how can you make predictions? It is hard enough even to think about how we will gradually exit from the pandemic cloud hanging over the world. And to begin to think about what your business may be like in a year’s time seems well nigh impossible. And yet, one of the key attributes of leadership is to try and see what is ahead and not just plan for it but also to shape how your business will be operating then.
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Feel Like a Leader
It may seem disloyal or hallucinating or not really “getting” how serious everything is just now to even force yourself to start thinking positively about the future of your business. Carly Fiorini said "Fear hides possibilities."
No-one ever said that leaders wouldn’t feel the tides of emotions that every human being experiences. What makes the leader a person who can lead is the determination to move beyond the roller coaster of emotions.
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Act Like a Leader
Our next step is to take the next step. Actions need taking and plans need researching. More than ever our world needs leaders ready to saddle up, head out, into the fog of uncertainty, determined and ready to work and rebuild.
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The John Maxwell Leadership podcast brings part of a livestreamed event on ‘Crisis Leaders: What they do well.' It is followed by a discussion led by two of John’s staff. The podcast is a frank look at where we are just now, how we move through it and the emotions we feel in doing that. A long listen but well worth the effort.
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Of course, no-one really knows what will happen in the months ahead. It feels like doing a jigsaw puzzle blindfolded, without having the jigsaw picture itself – and pieces are being added and taken away as you try to do it. But it is a leader’s job to be thinking through multiple scenarios. Here are some key points from a longer article that examines what some of these scenarios might look like. From the Forbes website.
'5 Predictions About How Coronavirus Will Change The Future Of Work' by Tracy Brower.
- What Your Company Does For You
- How You Work With Others
- Your Workplace And Technology
- Your Company’s Approaches
- Your Opportunities To Contribute
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Prerana Issar, Chief People Officer for the NHS gives her take on why leadership matters just now in this short clip.
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Another photo from the west coast of Scotland. You may have heard the phrase, ‘if stones could speak.' ‘If piers could speak’ what stories they could tell of the people and times they have seen. Piers have an enduring strength, well-illustrated here looking east from Blairmore Pier on Loch Long, celebrating 165 years of use.
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At the turn of the year it would have seemed unimaginable that almost every country in the world would be affected by a pandemic, that would close down the economies and social infrastructure of the majority of countries. So books written on leading in times of crisis tend to concentrate on more localised and smaller scale problems. Yet we still need to learn from those who have written with insight and understanding on the topic. For us all, this global crisis is also a very local one.
One author who does this is Bill Tibbo who writes about ‘Leadership in the Eye of the Storm.' Published four years ago by the University of Toronto Press he offers some key contributions.
- Helping your people is your top priority in a crisis response situation.
- Communicate directly, honestly and in a timely manner.
- A crisis is emotional. Recovery takes time, and people need autonomy.
- Healing is individual; everyone’s timetable varies. Healing is also a social process, so be warm and treat people well.
- Responding “in the eye of the storm” helps contain damage.
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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 is falling apart."
Robin Sharma
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Lead well
Graham and Lesley
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