10 Lessons Learned in Crisis That Will Help You Bounce Forward
As we reflect on the leadership we saw during the height of Covid, it’s remarkable the positive attributes of leaders and teams that worked well in crisis. So, how do we take what we learned and perpetuate the qualities that emerged out of necessity? We should think about bouncing forward, rather than bouncing back. These 10 practices are what we’re seeing right now:
Sacrificial Leadership. Effective leaders and teams are leading from the front. They are the first to raise their hand when a sacrifice must be made, well ahead of asking the same of others. Sacrifices are also collective and mutual, shared by all. There is no pecking order or unnecessary formality; rather a pervasive and genuine ‘I got your back’ mentality.
Clarity Of Purpose. There’s nothing like a crisis to make everything crystal clear. What’s essential. What’s not. What’s productive. What’s not. What’s meaningful. What’s not. Who’s vital. Who isn’t. Effective leaders and teams are pressure testing everything and returning to the fundamentals of who they are and most importantly, WHY they do what they do. It’s this maniacal focus and common purpose that is propelling them forward.
Manifest Empathy. A basic requirement of leadership is the ability to work with and through others. Yes, people are essential to the leadership equation. Effective leaders and teams recognize they are in the humanity business. Mastering empathy is foundational which then begets compassion, appreciation, gratitude, respect, and generosity. Oh yes, don’t forget celebration, both big and small. All of which, in turn, motivates and empowers people.
Respect Of Personal/Professional Integration. The line between our professional and personal lives has become blurred if not completely erased. After all, when we’re on a Zoom call, we’re entering someone’s personal space that traditionally has been separate from work. Essentially, we’re their guest. Effective leaders and teams understand this and invite the whole person to show up.
Attentive Communication. There’s real power in communication that is open, consistent, and compelling. Proactive communication is a cornerstone of how effective leaders and teams operate. They are also proficient at the discipline of being fully present and truly listening to understand rather than to speak.
Shared Commitment. At the heart of commitment is a pledge or promise. It’s one thing to commit oneself, it’s another to mutually commit to the collective success of the whole. That’s what effective leaders and teams do. It’s that purpose greater than themselves that is the driver for their success.
Collaborative Problem-Solving. The need to navigate problems is ever present in business today. Effective leaders and teams represent diversity of thought and perspectives. They know how to work together to weigh all sides of an issue, prioritize and find a path forward.
Candid Conversations. Speaking the truth without fear of repercussion or consequence is how effective leaders and teams function. The expectation to keep it real is a vital and anchoring principle.
Exercising Agility. The marketplace is dynamic. Uncertainty reigns. The ability to respond rapidly, make decisions, iterate, and adapt are what effective leaders and teams are doing. When they fail, they recover quickly, build resilience, which serves them well for the next time they take a wrong turn and must self-correct. This helps them move faster, and ultimately, much smarter.
Seizing Opportunities. Finally, and very importantly, effective leaders and teams prioritize stepping away from all the noise and honing their ability to identify where the opportunities are. Where there is disorder, there are always opportunities to reorder. You simply must be open to it. In the words of Albert Einstein, “If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.”
There you have it. Ten best practices in crisis and ten prime opportunities to bounce forward. No question the workplace today is different. Rather than returning to the traditional ways of behaving and old habits of doing, effective leaders and teams are doubling down and building on these new practices. How can you leverage what you’ve learned today to create a future that is more sustainable for tomorrow?
