Do you have clarity, courage & conviction?

Leadership in a time of confusion requires conviction, courage and clarity. This is not the time to be asking your people what they would do.

Those of you who know me know that naturally, I’m a collaborative leader. I want input, I want insight, and I want to hear people’s opinions. But when people are stressed tired and worried, they're not looking to give their insights they're looking to be led, they looking to be supported

Leaders must now step up and serve the people whom they have the privilege of leading. I've always resisted command and control as a leadership style, but I am a strong believer in courage, clarity and conviction. The two are not the same.

Here at Defy Expectations, we're seeing many of our clients ponder and procrastinate what their best way forward is. I have a very clear view of this, our way forward, as leaders, is to set our people up for long term health and success.

It is not about using the excuse of we will do what our customers want us to do. It is about leading in a time when people need strong leaders. Most workers in the UK who are office-based can work from home, there is no technological reason why they can't. So send your staff home, train them and give them clear instructions on what you expect them to do.

However, we all know that working from home working remotely requires discipline boundaries and clear expectations of what we are expected to do and deliver. If your staff are young and inexperienced, teach them. Teach them to work remotely, teach them to utilise the tools available to them. I also guarantee that they will teach you something new about the tools that you have available. Teach them how to structure their day, teach them how to set boundaries, teach them how to check in with you, their peers and their customers. Teach them to put the care of their families ahead of the bottom line but at the same time delivering on their commitments.

Your people need ruthless clarity. Leaders are not perfect we are humans too, and that means our decisions may not always be right, but in times like these, that doesn't actually matter.

What does matter is that we are clear and communicative in our decision making. Set expectations, outline boundaries, discuss openly what you are hoping and wanting to see your staff continue to deliver. Acknowledge constraints. Acknowledge that this could have an impact on your top and bottom line. And then let it go.

This is out of your control. However, what you can control and what you can deliver clarity on is how and what you expect your people to do. You can deliver clarity on their priority which is themselves their health and the health of their family. You can control who you are as a leader, so lead with your heart, not your head, at this time.

We need leaders with courage, we need leaders who will stand up to those who are driven by fear or the top line. We need leaders who will stand up for the people they serve and ensure they are set up for success. And we need conviction. The conviction to know what is right.

As CEO of Defy Expectations, I'm in a privileged situation, I've worked remotely for nearly 15 years and it is second nature to me. I'm very clear on what my role is for my clients I'm here to help them navigate this situation and to teach them what I know that may benefit themselves and their staff.

Once you have set your staff up for success, then take advantage of this situation. Use this as an opportunity to make the changes to your culture, processes and business that are needed. Think disruption, think about how to stop doing all the things you have always done.

So, whilst no one knows what's going on and how this will pan out, I know that I intend to be ruthlessly clear and what I am expecting from myself, I will be ruthlessly clear on how I am expecting to support others and those I serve. And I will be ruthless in my courage and convictions to stick to my values and my boundaries.