COVID struck the world with little warning.
There was no preparation. That’s the hallmark of a crisis: sudden, intense upheaval that disrupts life – or business – in every way. A wrong move could bring even more disaster.
Yet behind every crisis is a yet-to-be-discovered opportunity. Shrouded by the intensity of a crisis, new ways of doing business await the leader who through vision and holding, will emerge from a challenge – and be stronger from it.
And her resilience, her capacity to recover from the difficult times, will serve as an anchor when another crisis occurs.
“Any deep crisis is an opportunity to make your life extraordinary in some way.”
— Martha Beck, Author
A Great Leader Possesses Vision and Holding
In Harvard Business Review, Gianpiero Petriglieri explains the psychology involved in effective leadership during a crisis.
In his work over the past 20 years, each time he asks the question, “What makes a good leader?” responses from managers, students and senior executives offered the same response: vision. It’s an ideal people can strive for; it gives a sense of direction to follow.
But a true leader cannot rest on vision alone. During a crisis, many leaders take action, Petriglieri notes, but often flounder. What they need, he believes, is a type of holding.
In psychology, the word has a precise meaning: it is the way a person, usually one in authority, contains and interprets events taking place during precarious times. During the pandemic, a leader with holding reassures his team that the company can withstand the crisis, that jobs will be secure, and further provides strategies for developing new business in the future.
He cites a recent disaster: the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While some executives lost faith in the company, others reinforced their efforts and commitment. Despite the immensity of the spill, those who worked closely with their bosses and colleagues on clean-up efforts and heard upper management’s positive messages, were reassured. Their belief in BP’s integrity and future viability was strengthened.
Petriglieri summed up the benefits of holding:
“Being held as we work through a crisis… is more useful than being told how bright the future is.”
Powerful Leadership During A Crisis
For leaders, strategizing new business methods amidst a crisis requires thoughtful deliberation, but a pandemic adds the burdens of health and safety concerns as well.
Chris Nichols, Shoma Chatterjee Hayden and Chris Trendler wrote in Harvard Business Review that after conducting more than 21,000 leadership assessments among C-suite executives, their CEO Genome research team discovered:
To move forward in a crisis, four specific behaviors are necessary:
- Decide rapidly. Top leaders analyze information, glean what matters, and make decisions with confidence.
- Fearlessly adapt. Great leaders are not afraid to ask questions when needed or bring in expertise to develop new strategic plans.
- Consistently deliver. Ensure priorities are documented and review them frequently.
- Engage with your team. Check in daily, making sure to communicate on a personal level first – then focus on business.
Self-Care During Times of Crisis is Essential
Leaders are expected to take care of everyone and everything. Yet, making a commitment to self-care is vital: how can we take care of others if we don’t first take care of ourselves?
“An empty lantern provides no light.
Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly.”– Unknown
While we’re expressing empathy for others, we need to acknowledge that we need empathy as well. A McKinsey & Co. article noted the tremendous importance of taking care of ourselves. And don’t forget the power of gratitude: the more gratitude we give, the more abundance we receive as well.
It’s also vital to take time to re-discover what we love. When we find ourselves feeling depleted, it’s time to divert, to do something we enjoy. Whether that’s finding a power spot out in nature or taking a brief respite in the solitude right within the office, do it.
McKinsey & Co. noted that because of the pandemic, many leaders are talking about their companies’ purpose and what they stand for. Sharing stories of how your company goes above and beyond during the pandemic lifts others up – and serves as an inspiration for all.
We tend to focus on the negative during a crisis. But for true leaders, there is a deeper realization that it’s time to do business another way…a better way.
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” -John C. Maxwell
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Colleen Slaughter, Proud Executive Coach to the UN World Food Program, the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Winner
As an Executive Coach for Women in Leadership and Transformational Facilitator, my intention is to help leaders in positions of high influence to understand their worth at a profound level.
Supporting women leaders to truly thrive and step into their greatness, while succeeding in male-dominated industries and spaces is my native genius.
My technique and approach show you how to achieve incredible career success without compromising any part of who you are and what makes you magnificent.