[January 31, 2021] The pandemic has catapulted leaders of all kinds into uncertainty; whether that be business leaders, academic leaders or political leaders. Their leadership skills were put to the test with big picture questions like “when will it be safe to work in-person?”, “what will the post-COVID world look like?” and “how can we better prepare for situations like global pandemics in the future?”
Successful crisis management is arguably the greatest asset an organization or individual can have. For this to be effective, it has to begin prior to a crisis with routine attention and planning. Preparing for any fiscal obstacles that may arise is integral to the success of any industry and has helped several organizations withstand the negative effects of the pandemic.
The practice of compassion is at the heart of leadership during times such as these. Empathy for others is integral to successful leadership because it fosters a positive company culture during a time where things are not as joyful as they once were. This will ultimately result in the desire for success and to thrive despite all circumstances for teams. Balancing business and life will lead to increased productivity and innovation in all facets of industries.
Longevity is of utmost importance now more than ever; businesses that were once lucrative were thrown into uncertainty once the pandemic went into full swing. Nationwide shutdowns prevented companies from making profit to stay in business. Leading with long-term finances, like employee benefits, retirement plans and health insurance, in mind is crucial to the economic success of your business, no matter the environmental factors come your way.
When internal or external obstacles come into play, hiding mistakes or failures doesn’t help companies advance. What does help progress, however, is transparency. Honesty and transparency allows leaders to build trust and confidence which in turn helps your business overcome hurdles and challenges.
One of the biggest takeaways from the past year is that gratitude is of utmost importance. Everything we have in our everyday lives, whether that be close relationships or quality time, can be taken for granted. From a leadership perspective, it is important to appreciate the employees, staff and community that you have because without them, your business might cease to exist. As a leader, focusing on what you have can amplify your motivation and willingness to move forward in times of uncertainty.
Although 2020 posed numerous challenges, it also posed countless opportunities for growth and leadership. The challenges of the pandemic and the economic recession have taught leaders in all industries that having financial grit allows your organization to thrive for years to come.
Well done, Sophie. I appreciate the article.
I liked the part best when she said that hiding mistakes doesn’t help companies. But I will also add – since I like this article so much – that hiding mistakes also does not help the person who makes them. Best to come out and admit the mistake, learn from it, apologize if necessary, and then just move on.
Oh, good article. Also, I gain some additional insight at the link you posted.
https://www.creditrepair.com/blog/finance/employee-benefits-after-leaving-job/
Yes, whenever there are more challenges to deal with, there are also more opportunities. I think nearly every failed person makes this mistake. Take the opportunity whenever you can. Don’t look back and you will succeed.
“The practice of compassion is at the heart of leadership during times such as these. ” This statement you made is correct. However, there may be some confusion between “compassion” which is an emotion without an act and “caring” which is an emotional WITH an action. I would rather have the action than the emotion. You might want to make a change in future articles. But, nevertheless a very good article.
Good point, Randi. I didn’t catch that in my first read of Ms Isbell’s article.
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Yes, and Gen. Satterfield wrote about it also.
“The Most Important Leadership Characteristic”
https://www.theleadermaker.com/the-most-important-leadership-characteristic/
Good link, thanks British Citizen.
Randi, well said. This is an important distinction that is a bit subtle but important.
Hi Sophie, … good article. Thanks. 😊
Yep, I thought so too. I like it whenever Gen. Satterfield gives us guest writers. Gives me a different look and perspective.