Growth During Crisis: 5 Ways To Nurture Your Leadership Now

During these challenging times, many leaders are grappling with never-before-seen threats to their businesses and the hurdles of navigating uncharted waters of fully remote work, as well as managing fears about the health and welfare of ourselves and loved ones.

While it can be tempting to continuously focus on the current crisis, in the midst of difficult periods, we often develop new perspectives – our lives and routines are upended, which allow us to see life in a new light, try new things, and groove different patterns. Times like these have a way of focusing us on what really matters – and, for those of us able to work from home, our lives have become exceedingly simplified. Without commutes, after school activities, social events and errands, many of us find ourselves with more discretionary time. 

Certainly, there’s an allure to tuning out, and binge-watching the latest Netflix series (and there’s time for that, too), but using at least some of this newly-found time and perspective productively can help leaders hone new skills and maintain forward momentum – and emerge from this moment in time with added capabilities and fresh insights. Here are some ways I’m using the time; I hope these are helpful to you, as well.

#1) Take stock.  Use the time to reflect on your leadership skills: what’s working well? Where could your leadership benefit from development? You may want to gather data to get a more well-rounded view; ask your team, some trusted colleagues or friends to give you a sense of your strengths and opportunities. A self-assessment can also be helpful – look for assessments online or engage a coach who offers assessments through their practice. For instance, I use psychological and multi-rater inventories with my clients, such as the Individual Directions Inventory and the Leadership Effectiveness Analysis which measure key dimensions of motivations and behaviors.

#2) Catch up on reading. If you’re like me, you have a stack of reading in your home or office that you’ve been accumulating – now is the time to dive in! Set a reading goal for yourself, such as 3 articles per day, or 2 chapters of a selected book. If you don’t already have a stack of reading material, make a list. Peruse your favorite leadership publications; Forbes and Harvard Business Review have a slew of articles and recommended books. A few titles I’d recommend are classics, like The 21 Laws of Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell, or Good to Great by Jim Collins; I’m also a fan of Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. Looking for other titles? Crowdsource ideas from friends and colleagues: ask a group of them to send you their favorite leadership book or article.

#3) Learn online. If you prefer to consume your learning via video, take a look at the numerous webinars and instructional videos available on the web. Professional associations often provide webinars and e-learning as part of their value proposition to members. If you belong to an association, investigate their offerings; if you do not currently have a membership to an association, it may be worth exploring – there are many benefits to affiliating with an organization that offers resources tailored to your discipline or industry. 

There are also resources such as e-learning and webinars, ranging from free options to more expensive university courses and executive education. Research no-charge alternatives such as Ted Talks: especially relevant right now are Simon Sinek’s “Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe,” and Roselinde Torres’ “What it Takes to Be a Great Leader.” Vendor-sponsored webinars, designed to engage current and prospective customers, are abundant. Or it might be time to take that class or begin the certification you’ve been meaning to complete; choices and investment vary, from free courses through MIT Sloan School of Management to executive education and certificate programs through The Wharton School or eCornell to the LinkedIn learning platform.  Choose the ones right for you – you can even ask a colleague or friend to join you, if you want an accountability partner or just someone to share the experience.

#4) Reconnect with your network. Strange as it may sound, this may be a good time to reignite some relationships in your network – others may find they have discretionary time as well. Make a commitment to reach out to three current or new contacts each week, even if just to check in on how they are faring in the current situation. Schedule a virtual social hour with a few colleagues; discuss relevant topics, such as how they are leading through these times, or how their business is looking to address the current economic landscape. Touch base with a former or potential mentor. You’ll further cement relationships and nurture new ones, that will continue to flourish beyond the current crisis – and you may glean some new leadership insights and approaches along the way!

#5) Write it down. Whether you’re a budding author, or your prose is mostly limited to email, cultivating your writing can be helpful to your leadership in a few ways. First, you can become a more effective writer – communication is key in leadership, and many of our exchanges with others rely on the written word. If your messages are impactful – whether you’re seeking to be inspirational, clear, succinct, humorous – they can have a positive impact on your relationships and outcomes. Second, you can use your writer’s voice to share message via articles or contributions to your company newsletter, LinkedIn, professional associations and other vehicles. Writing is an excellent tool for building your professional profile and influence in your workplace, discipline, industry or community. Third, writing is an outlet for your thoughts and perspectives – chronicling these on a regular basis in the form of a journal - or just notes on your smartphone - can help you organize your ideas, but it can also boost memory and comprehension. 

If you haven’t been a habitual writer, and aren’t sure where to start, begin by writing your thoughts about a book or article you’re reading, or jotting down the highlights of your day. The important thing is to just begin.

While there are many aspects of the current crisis for leaders to navigate, leveraging at least some this time for reflection, connection and self-development can deliver returns. When life and work return to (the new) normal, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of your investment in the form of advanced skills, a reinvigorated network and a novel perspective - and emerge stronger and reenergized.

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Patricia Carl is a Fortune 500 executive and career coach, former Chief HR Officer and guest lecturer at University of Pennsylvania. She creates generative partnerships with individuals and organizations to define what success looks like – whether that is developing executives and high-potentials, driving team performance or designing and delivering leadership development programs.