How have leaders dealt with pandemic blues?

In decades of working with various leaders, I have found that true ones shine through when a crisis strikes. This difference is not only because they just worked hard to come out of the crisis but their touch of master stroke from the word go...even the way they define the crisis itself.

The ongoing pandemic has been a crisis stretched to more than a year - a phenomena happened way back a century ago! Can there be any better time to gain a fresh leadership insights? Charles Dickens famous quote “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times....", resonates well.

Excerpts of a discussion with a friend who posed following questions with above as the context setting.

Q1: We find many in the world living in hard times due to the pandemic. What's your take?

Dr Pant: Times are not tough, rather we at times get overwhelmed with our challenges to see no solutions at sight; a situation going beyond our control, or an impact or a loss very heavy to bear.

Q2: Is it not an oversimplification where we find most of us rattled all over the world?

Dr Pant: Agree that tensions, worries, discomfort and life challenges have been experienced by most of us, in some way or the other. In the light of these, we underestimate the capacity of we humans by a great extent. We all are going through various degree of evolution individually, in a family, nation and the world.

Why are we not surprised that how quickly we have reset our life against all odds? We have taken leaps of a many decades in few months time. This rapid change has deep social, economical and personal impact. Our abilities to overcome our challenges are multifold. Difficult does not mean that solution can not come by.

Q3: We find many people of all ages are going through emotional stress, depression, conflict in relationships etc. what's your observation and how you have tried dealing these in your context?

Dr Pant: Our life game might be tough and playing our various roles in life might be very challenging but taking ourselves seriously - feeling low or great - is our choice. My first take is, we avoid making it messy with any negative contribution without any ifs and buts. We do! Keep doing your duties and attending to responsibilities relentlessly to best of your capability and capacity. I have resolved to be a better person each day, as my commitment. Walk the talk! A blend and balance of meditation, walking, yoga and right eating and working, in this order, is the wise living and a lifelong attempt!

Q4: How to make this switch? This choice does not happen with many so easily??

Dr Pant: If we get rattled with our circumstances, it means its a clear message for us to dive deep and change ourselves. There is an easy tendency in us that we want others to take it up. Time to own up ourselves and get going. If we are relentless in our pursuit, we will find the way. Its difficult but not impossible.

Q5: We see many people fail and get depressed and find themselves helpless. What's your reflection?

Dr Pant: Putting our sincere efforts to our challenges is the most motivating thing in life. Here "trying" is important and not the result itself. Our trouble is, assuming there need to exist motivation to start and success the only outcome!. Both these factors might be beyond our control!

Q6: So, we may hit a wall as things are beyond our control?!

Dr Pant: What else we could do to accept which we can’t control! God must have some work for himself/herself too!

Many of us find this accepting very difficult. We all have invisible rigidity inside us a set projections, belief, way of doing etc. Acceptance means allow an element of doubt or flexibility to come in and let others world coexist with ours.

We can relate to these in our family set up too. Acceptance by us as parents will allow all adults in our family to be responsible to take life challenges and grow out of it.

Q7: But, we get overwhelmed with our responsibilities and try to control things for better for all?

Dr Pant: Practice let go! Let go has multiple dimensions. Do what you need to. Provide space for others do what they intent to. Be ready to accept the outcome. Result is not the everything in life, at times process of doing is more important. Even a failure can be more rewarding. Reflect in your life and you will find a few examples yourselves too.

Q8: How can we retain these wisdom as life situations may be very demanding and throws us out of control? When rubber hits the road phenomena happens?

Dr Pant: Our ancestors have been very wise. Most of us in the world have names derived from gods, prophets, saints, great leaders or great human qualities and endeavors. The inherent wisdom has been that in the lows of our lives, these names itself will show us the way to face life challenges. They invoke power and strength in us. I find solace in reflecting how Gods (Harish - God) have dealt the challenging situations with grace and I am his name sake and must try!

Q9: You make it sound so simple. Many of the people have to go to counselors and psychologists even?

Dr Pant: We get into life character too seriously - a bit child way of dusting ourselves and getting up again will do wonders. All man made things are complicated otherwise it's simple in its natural disposition.

As a proverb goes...When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Any parting line of wisdom?

Dr Pant: Put your soul force to work. Wear your smile so graciously that it infects generously the ones who missed! A poem written three years back seems still relevant.