How we choose to live and lead during these times?

We don’t seem to have much choice these days on how to live our lives as our very existence is threatened by a deadly virus.

As scary as it may sound, this situation also presents some profound opportunities to think about how we choose to live and lead through times of unprecedented change.

As I started to dress up at 7 am in the morning my 4 year old asked me whether I was going to the office.

I said: "No, I am working from home." 

He then asked by a surprised tone of voice: But why are you dressing up then?

I make a choice every day to dress up as if I am going to work in the office. It’s my routine of self-care to stare at my reflection in the mirror to feel energised for the day and carry that discipline to my virtual work environment. I also make a choice by turning on my video to build more powerful interactions and engagement with people during our online meetings. As you encourage virtual presence, you’re also more likely to be inclusive by watching people’s body language and facial expressions that allow you to spot that person who has a point to make but miss that perfect moment to talk amongst 10 other people.

As digital becomes a “way of being” rather than a set of technical skills that a limited number of people hold, it’s a great opportunity for corporations to start thinking about how to upskill a wider part of their workforce to feel comfortable utilising these digital technologies and adopting themselves to new ways of working. Another fascinating fact about working from home is how much it brings you closer to people you work with or in other words allowing them to bring their whole selves to work! I have learnt more about my colleagues personal lives (pets, kids, taste in art / decoration, relationship status) in the past 6 days then I had in the past 6 months.

It’s a great opportunity for organisations to think about how to leverage digital technologies to create more inclusive workplaces as increasing number of people’s personal circumstances / preferences requires some form of flexibility and of course to also ensure business continuity for times when we are tested by unprecedented challenges like Covid-19.

Leaders are also presented with great choices during this time. They can choose humility over charisma and power. We need to recognise it’s a time to listen and understand other’s feelings, be prepared to support and also show vulnerability as we’re in this together. There is nothing more unsettling than a leader who goes quiet during times of change, so we need to commit to communicating more even if it means we need to admit we don’t have all the answers.  

It's also a unique opportunity for individuals to think about what cooperation and solidarity truly means both inside and outside of work. These two words hold magical powers to help us achieve things much faster. We’re all in this together, worrying for our loved ones near and far, trying to fit childcare / home schooling / work arrangements around the clock day and night, suffering with mental health issues, anxious about world economy, job security, lives that are lost every single day…  

You can see this as one of our world’s greatest tragedy and it certainly is yet it also presents a unique opportunity for leaders / corporations / individuals to embrace the change it brings and think about the choices we make every single day. We can use these times to learn more about how digital is becoming a key enabler for different sectors from education to heath care, why we need to nurture close collaboration and solidarity across our teams and communities and how we can lead with humility and vulnerability. 

Let’s all rise up to this challenge!