More of this, and less of that

Leadership in Covid times 

The times are unprecedent. You have heard it before. The business canvas has been modified. Splashed with risks, broken supply chains, demotivated employees and disappearing customers. The rules of the game have changed. The light at the end of the tunnel is certainly there. But not sure how long the tunnel is. Whether we are at the beginning, middle or end of the suffering brought about by the pandemic is not clear yet. 

In such times of ambiguity, what is the role of the leadership? What will differentiate good leadership from bad ones? There is no one answer that fits all business contexts. A quick survey, a few conversations and reflection lead us to a few points though. 

Leaders in Covid times could perhaps do more of the following: 

Connect with people - Talk to people. Listen. Understand the pain, the dilemmas, and everyday issues they face. A lot is getting reconfigured. From strained relationships, postponed marriages, increased workload, financial worries to shifting personal goals - people are seeing a lot of change. At best leaders can lend an ear - to all. This also requires that you prioritize your time for the vulnerable stakeholders over those who were traditionally seen as important stakeholders. And this of course is the time to prioritize internal stakeholders over external stakeholders. 

Tolerate under-performance - There are new rules of the game. Employees are adjusting to newer markets, changed consumer behavior and emerging needs. You may witness not just poor performance but also inconsistent approaches and methods. Stress makes us less flexible. By being more tolerant of poor performance, you could assuage the pain and stress of an unpredictable environment. Remember to acknowledge the effort and celebrate every small victory. 

Innovation and creativity - Operating within the constraints of cash flows and financial resources, Leaders may take calculated risks in assessing newer markets, products, and services in these times. Many businesses have seen significant and even total drop in revenues. A lot may come back when the world opens. However, such significant happenings do change many things for ever. Consider entering newer markets. 

And perhaps what should you do less of? 

Sticking to the old path - Persistence and the ability to stay the course has long been a favourable leadership virtue. Reconsider the same. Because goal posts will necessarily shift, it is important to branch out to newer avenues. Many of your existing organizational goals may become obsolete and untenable. 

Sticking to the proven process - From simple things like payment processes to how you measure performance, time tested processes may become invalid overnight. Assess the validity of every process and offering in the new normal.