Through the windows of opportunities

Most of us have been watching the world through windows - maybe rooftops, balconies or doors, for over a month now. It does look like things have been moving in slow motion while we get to see the rapidly changing world unfold layer by layer. While we all guess anxiously how deep and broad this change will go and hope optimistically for some good news in these dark times. These are also windows of learning and opportunities to look through. Here are a few of the many that may lie ahead.

Leadership

We have never had a greater opportunity to watch and observe leaders of every walk behaving, communicating and acting under such pressure and crisis, all at the same time – national heads, politicians, corporate bosses, religious and community leaders. As we watch these leaders make decisions, define priorities, communicate to their stakeholders, act-react and adopt new strategies, some coming forward to cooperate and others waiting for their opportunity of gain, this is an opportunity to learn leadership like never before

Real leadership is a lot about the character and its real test is during a crisis. This is an opportunity for true leaders to emerge and separate from the rest. This is an opportunity to learn and shape leaders and leadership in public and private spaces where we all have a role to play as global citizens of the world and as leaders leading our personal lives, families, organizations and broader communities, responsibly and sustainably.

Sustainability and climate

Sustainability had been a buzzword for quite some time but as many economies and every organization faces an existential crisis and identifies it’s real options of sustainability, this is an opportunity to clean up the mess that had been accumulating for so many years. Every clean-up is painful, hurts and can be tiring. But, if intent is honest and the world focuses to re-establish practices that are eco-friendlier, build processes for long term resilience and commits to fairness for all stakeholders there is surely an opportunity for the world at large and organizations, in general, to turn more sustainable - if they do survive this period.

Culture – National, religious and work.

The modern culture of consumerism and instant gratification had been under pressure of its own excesses. This has been challenged in this global quarantine with a waiting period who's end does not look near. Social distancing is impacting national cultures in every continent be it Spain where the Tapas bars may not come back in action for months or India where many families have not seen each other for weeks. Most iconic as well as local community religious places remain closed – churches, temples, mosques but people are still praying everyday for the health. Many are now challenging the notion of workplace & offices and it's efficiency and worth. As the world works from home and the business is still running for many and even better for some, there is a new sense of realization about which work is really critical out on the street and which work skills are crucial. As we reorient the day to day operational activities of our daily lives, we have an opportunity to understand our cultures of work, religion, and nations much better to live it with a greater understanding of what is relevant and what might have been superfluous. We have an opportunity to re-skill ourselves and prepare for the future that was not part of the plan 3 months ago.

Education

It’s a perennial discussion if education is about schooling and vice versa. But, as schools in the majority of the world remain shut barring a few exceptions, we have an opportunity to revisit education - education of learning and not just of schooling. As I watch my 4-year-old son having 3 video classes every Monday to Friday (more video meetings than I have every day) it is clear that online education and the EdTech industry has made a leap in it’s multiyear progress from alternative university education to primary schooling for millions of little children in just about a month’s time. Education through technology will continue to disrupt the inequality of the knowledge economy, but we also have an opportunity to teach and learn together with our children about real human values. About real challenges, we face together and about real problem solving and long term thinking. We have an opportunity to educate our next generation with values that can help them endure this period and emerge stronger. We acquired freedom that was built by our forefathers through the mid of 20th-century post-WWII but our children and next generation which remains locked for over a month may in their own houses may as well have to earn their freedom by overcoming this period that is altering world right now.

Health and Healthcare

It was not usual to see ordinary folks staring at health care dashboards and following them every day. Governments openly admitting their health care system is not prepared and capable to tackle the onslaught of new patients expected because of a new virus. People realizing the importance of being healthy and increasing their immunity as a matter of survival. But, as the world faces the urgent health deficit we have an opportunity to recall health is wealth. To bring the focus back to building healthy habits and living healthier lives. To eat right, breathe clean, sleep well and workout routinely. There is an opportunity for governments to upgrade their healthcare systems rapidly that was missed for decades. There is an opportunity for each one of us to prioritize our mental, physical and spiritual health. When we come out on the other side of this tunnel and if we turn lucky, the world could be a healthier place to live a few years down the line.

Digital on steroids

The sales pitch for Digital transformation may not be required anymore because no one needs to sell the idea of Digital anymore. Digital is the only option of survival for now and may just stick around to be the only way of life. As the world will evolve touch-free and physical interaction-free and addiction for digital catapults and turns everything into a remote activity we will have an opportunity to digitize everything we do today so we could do so many things tomorrow that we have never done before.

As digital will permeate everything – digital leadership, digital cultures, digital education, and digital health, our opportunity will be to find meaning amidst the digital overload and emerge as human beings with purpose and clarity.

While there will be many such opportunities in the near future, there will be many risks for each of these. Some risks and threats will be stronger and may not let us win and opportunities will be lost. But, I sincerely hope we will be able to capture some or many of these opportunities and be able to look back upon this period of grave pain, sacrifice, and isolation with scars on our memories that made us stronger, wiser and better for the future generations.

Do you already have some experiences or memories that you will look back upon with pride? Have you already learned any lessons that are invaluable to you? What impression this period is leaving on you that you absolutely want to forget or never want to forget?

I hope each one you and your families continue to be safe and healthy in whichever part of the world you are.