Leadership

It’s during crisis where an organization’s true culture is revealed and where real leader emerge. Crisis typically poses intense difficulty and damage for the business, either finance, resources, or other.  

Leader provide direction, guidance, and reassurance while acknowledging that the path ahead isn’t clear. We understand that business’s profit is the main concern of leader, some leader ignores human factor. To balancing this tension requires leaders to lead with humanity.

Put people first & openness. Hard-charging cost savings and profit motives that may have previously served an organization well could backfire in the current environment. While we can’t guarantee no layoffs during crisis, as leader should not avoid from employees and ensure the transparent about the situation. Share the situation with employees and get people’s input about how to proceed. Leader may ask each employee to say privately how much employees willing sacrifice, this help to build a strong culture of trust within the leader and subordinates.

Support and Connect. We contribute to company is to earn money for our life. While business crisis, we will lose the job or income due to company reduce the human resources. We’re worried about rent, mortgages, and the other day-to-day needs we took for granted just weeks ago. Compassion and opportunities for sustained connection are critical. For leaders, this means, at a minimum, slowing down, being flexible, and giving employees leeway to deal with these new challenges. It also means an opportunity to connect more deeply.

Connecting on a personal level has also been a priority. Story tell, and ask if employees need any specific support. It seems small, but taking the time to consciously do this has been tremendously helpful in strengthening relationships and maintaining our sanity. This is connected from deeply, different from drink & drunk together.

Understanding good leadership and practicing it are two different things, especially in the face of uncertainty and challenging time. Leaders need to move beyond themselves and stand in other people’s shoes. Experiment with ways of offering communication and support. Even you are experience with 40 plus years, but it doesn’t equal you are well performing leader.    

Doesn’t matter how long the company exist at market, and how success is it on history. If the leader ignores the humanity on management, the company wouldn’t go far in this new industry features.