Leadership in the time of COVID-19

If there’s one thing we can all say about a crisis, it’s this: it shows us what we’re made of.

In between the bad, the foolish, the scary, and the what-the-ever-loving-hell-just-happened filling up our news cycles as COVID-19 escalates and de-escalates around the world, leaders are rising up. Some with the world’s eye on them. Others, quietly making a difference with little or no fanfare.

Chinese doctors rushed to help Italy as their situation escalated, risking their own health to help where it was most needed. Chefs are donating and delivering meals to hospitals in New York City. Volunteers are shopping and picking up medications for at-risk neighbors in Estonia. And teens and college students are doing the same in major cities across the US.

And we’re all getting to see a little more of what our leaders—the ones we’ve elected, the ones we work with, the ones we didn’t know were there—are all about.

Leaders like Governor Cuomo, who is not only making tough decisions and standing by them in the face of great resistance, but who understands that one of the most vital things people need right now is to know what’s going on. His daily press conferences are full of objective data, simple explanations, and a clear distinction between when he’s stating facts and offering opinions. However you feel about his politics, during the crisis, it’s clear that he’s been stepping up to the communication plate. And in a world where misinformation is rampant, clear, data-driven information is pretty damn comforting.

Of course, Governor Cuomo isn’t the only political leader taking the lead. In the US, many governors—on both sides of the aisle—are standing strong in the face of protests against the shelter-in-place orders.

Cross the Atlantic and you’ll find the same: leaders like German Chancellor Angela Merkel are looking at the 90,000 deaths recorded in the EU and standing strong on stay-at-home orders. Merkel, who is a trained scientist and known for her cool head in a crisis, reacted quickly to the novel coronavirus and has hit an 80% approval rating through her swift, decisive decision-making.

Across the Pacific, more examples shine. Jung Eun-kyeong, the head of Korea’s Centers for Disease Control, and other Korean leaders have pushed for extensive testing that made Korea one of the quickest countries to flatten the curve without any lockdowns. Like Cuomo in NY, Eun-kyeong’s daily briefings are a must-watch for citizens who want straightforward, clear, correct information.

Then there’s New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who has utterly crushed the COVID-19 curve. Like Cuomo and Eun-kyeong, communication is Ardern’s strength. Her Facebook Live chats dressed in sweats, commiserating with NZ residents as they all hunkered down at home, were wildly popular. Even better, her approach halted the damn virus in its tracks, with New Zealand experiencing only 17 COVID-19 deaths and reporting only two new cases as of this Friday.

You’ll notice that I’ve highlighted a lot of women leaders who are inspiring us all—and that’s no accident. Women have reacted quickly and decisively to this crisis, taking charge in ways that have saved countless lives.

Of course, no discussion of leadership during the pandemic would be complete without talking about the people stepping up on a day-to-day basis. Healthcare professionals who heal us. Essential workers who risk their well-being to make sure we have food and water, who fix broken computers so we can keep working from home, who fill our prescriptions, who deliver the things we need so that we don’t have to leave the house.

Even those of us stuck at home are stepping up in unexpected ways. Technology companies are scrambling to make sure our video conferences go off without a hitch. Therapists and doctors are offering video sessions. People are finding new and creative ways to keep their co-workers inspired, their industries running, their projects on track.

For me, some of the most impressive leaders in this crisis have been the people on my own team. I’ve seen them rise up like never before as clients ask us to carry them through this uncertain time. Every single one is stepping up to the plate without hesitation. They’re putting in longer hours, digging deep into their creative reservoirs—and doing it all with a smile and a drive like I’ve never seen, even while juggling kids, spouses, sick loved ones, newly unemployed family members, and even a wedding that may have to be postponed.

The world may be different now. The news may feel uncertain. Our day-to-day may be more difficult. But this crisis is also showing us the stuff we’re made of—our resilience, our leadership, our creativity.

I always knew we had a great team here at Catalyst, but I’m even more in awe of them now. They’re not saving lives, but they are saving sanity. They’re helping leaders across industries effectively lead. They’re quelling anxiety and fear. They’re coming up with creative solutions that will keep clients going through and after the crisis.

And they are, like Governor Cuomo and Jung Eun-kyeong, my heroes—leaders who shine in a time when shining is harder than ever.