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Leadership holds key elements especially in the age of COVID-19. Identified by the WHO as a vital problem of the modern health system is the pandemic COVID-19. There are many leaders especially from the Western world who have shown bravely how to deal with the situation. Especially the current pandemic COVID-19, and similar diseases as future lessons. These leaders include Justin Trudeau (PM-Canada), Donald Trump (President-USA), Boris Johnson (PM-UK), Angela Merkel (Chancellor-Germany), and Jacinda Ardern (PM-New Zealand). All these leaders hold the key in terms of financial decisions, health matters, contingency & precautionary measures & other matters of public concern in their respective countries.
As we all know COVID-19 has been identified as a major cause of concern of the current age. However, for many leaders, it has also come as a test. While we discuss male leaders from the Superpower and other Western nations. Surprisingly, the role of female leadership has been exemplary. New Zealand PM, Jacinda Ardern has provided strong leadership models during the pandemic COVID-19. It is because of the efforts of PM, and her brilliant decision-making. On top of this, a positive and proactive approach has made it count for the kiwis. Declared as a Corona-free nation, fortunately enough New Zealand is the first country to have achieved that status. Being declared COVID free is a huge blessing especially when many countries are still under the devastating effects of COVID-19.
It has never been an easy job for leaders to make sure that safety is the primary concern for them. The pandemic has definitely provided us with many lessons in crisis management. This is indeed a special tribute as many successful leaders and companies have indeed demonstrated strong people skills. Furthermore, pivoting their organizations by supporting the employees and listening especially to what the customers want.
LEADING WITH HONESTY & EMPATHY:
Leadership with honesty and empathy in times of Pandemic COVID-19. Hence, it is the only way to get out of the crisis of this age with wisdom and courage. This is a fact that many countries with Female leaders have suffered less. More significantly, in terms of the deaths than their neighboring countries. If we compare Germany’s 11 deaths per 100,000 people to France’s 45 and the United Kingdom on 70. The question that rises again is “Are women leaders really the reason for this?”
A huge factor that has been identified is that the female-led countries locked down earlier than male-led countries. As a matter of fact, this might have been because women leaders were more risk-averse. More importantly about the impact on the virus than the male leaders. Many COVID-19 experts also believe in this case scenario being decisive is important. Hence, clear communication lines and participating leadership styles are the ones playing a huge part. This is apart from leading with honesty and empathy and clearing doubts that can arise due to multiple reasons. However, as part of the valuable leadership lessons honesty, empathy and transparency are the keys, especially fighting the pandemic COVID-19.
VALUING THE PEOPLE:
Giving values to people during the crisis like the pandemic COVID-19. Hence, it can automatically be a solution to the problem of the current age. The assets on which organizations are built are like the building blocks i.e. people. Addressing people’s issues with integrity and giving value to their problems is the best way leaders can fight the pandemic. People have tremendously stepped up whether home-workers in childcare and taking Zoom Calls very often. Delivery drivers and nurses working extra hours despite the number of risks involved. The stepping up of people has not only shown something about the power of people. It has also shown that their fight against the pandemic COVID-19 is more intense than the leadership itself.
Another aspect that holds huge vitality is the trust factor which is recognized to be central. The trust was shown by organizations on their people to work from home which was lacking in the initial phase. Hence, many experts also believe that leaders trusting people can speed the recovery from COVID-19 for a sustainable future.
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BEING AGILE:
Agility is the best ability in decision making that leaders can aspire for rapid action. According to the Harvard Business Review agile is about Taking People out of their functional silos. Furthermore, putting them in self-managed and customer-focused multidisciplinary teams. In other words ‘Agility’ is highly adaptable to more than one and rapidly evolving demands of a crisis like COVID-19. It is part of disaster management in more concrete and functional ways. Being agile about a certain disaster or a pandemic also means realizing its overall impacts. These impacts can be on the people, and reaction should be as soon as possible. This is all apart from the other responsibilities that the leadership has to follow. However, lessons should be learned for a safe future and a better tomorrow.