Leaders Don’t Need To Go It Alone in a Time of Crisis

There is not an industry untouched by the current global coronavirus crisis – this perfect storm of health and economic chaos poses an unprecedented challenge to leaders across organisations and government.

During ordinary operations, leadership coaching is a useful tool for providing guidance on optimising team performance, defining priorities and developing proficiency in behavioural communication skills to inspire others. Right now, however leadership coaches fill an urgent and critical role. It is always a bit ‘lonely at the top’, today even more so – no-one is immune to the emotional toll of this crisis and many feel overwhelmed as they are suddenly left to navigate uncharted waters to balance business priorities and leading teams in this ‘new normal’ landscape.

There are many labels given to the types* of leadership responses in a time of crisis. This pandemic will favour those who choose the ‘Transformational/Visionary Leadership’ styles – in other words those who leverage this disruption as an opportunity to guide their people to transform from current ways of working and to re-frame this as an opportunity to evolve. The challenges posed by the coronavirus are unravelling the very DNA of organisations, presenting an opportunity for every level of the company to be re-formed into a new and flexible structure. Transitioning to virtual teaming has sat on the to-do list for many for over a decade, and now, within the space of weeks we are seeing companies with transformational and visionary leaders pivot to nimble, virtual structures.

This establishes a new work order – one with enhanced flexibility over resourcing, new visibility over productivity and the opportunity for an enviable work-life balance.

“If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

COVID-19 is the antagonist taunting us to embrace transformation that will ultimately establish a new style of future-proofed teaming – the coronavirus, with its devastating impact on families and communities now illustrates how essential the whole person approach to leadership is. This is the future of work, and in 12-18 months from now, after this has passed and we have reconciled ourselves with the emotional and economic impact, we will wonder why we ever worked any other way.

My team and I have coached 100s of professionals through all stages of their careers with a focus on C-Suite executives, healthcare KOLs, US District Court Judges to Senior Partners, and Directors within Big 4 accounting firms. When working with each and every candidate we are entrusted to deconstruct and examine all levels of their responsibilities and support the development of their personal leadership styles. Our confidential coaching sessions enable leaders at all levels to unburden their challenges, re-discover their natural skills and acquire new ones to self-direct towards success.

During this time, we continue to offer executive coaching remotely and we are working with clients from New York to Sydney.

If you need immediate support please connect me directly on LinkedIn to discuss further. Also feel free to reach out to me, Nick Jasprizza on [email protected]  

* 7 types of leaders in times of crisis: Servant Leader, Command and Control Leader, Democratic Leader, Charismatic Leader, Laissez-Faire Leader, Transformational Leader, Transactional Leader.   Source: Mike McKenna www.team-solutions.us

* Flexible and Adaptive Leadership: Coercive, Visionary, Affiliative, Democratic, Pace-setting, Coach. Source: ‘An EI Based Theory of Performance’ by Daniel Goleman et al ? 2001