A Call For Leadership In A Time Of Crisis

Life, as we normally know it, has been upended-at least for the time being. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the status quo, causing the fear and panic that comes with the unknown. We find ourselves in uncharted territory and there is no clear roadmap.  

Just over a week ago, China quarantined a major part of its population. Italy is now on lockdown. The stock market is on a rollercoaster ride. Presidential primaries are being postponed. New York's historic St. Patrick's Day Parade is canceled. Broadway is shut down. Disneyland, Universal Studios, theme parks and other major attractions around the world, are closing. Major events and concerts everywhere are being canceled or postponed. Companies are closing their offices and sending workers home to work virtually. Universities and schools are closing, sending students home to attend classes online, and ending semesters early. People are stockpiling food and supplies, stripping market shelves bare. Social 'distancing' is encouraged. The medical community is being stretched to capacity. While almost all of these measures are about prevention, the impact is huge and largely unpredictable. 

Nothing quite like this has ever happened before, so panic is setting in. Suddenly, the reality of daily life feels more like living in a Hollywood disaster movie--and it's a blockbuster!

Now, more than ever is the time when strong leadership becomes most crucial and global leaders must step up and rise to the occasion. In times of crisis, it is the job of a leader to assess the situation, determine a course of action and assure those affected, that whatever needs to happen will get done as quickly as possible, and give people confidence. It's important not to react emotionally, and to respond quickly and decisively. 

A lack of clear communication, accurate information, and decisive action always leads to chaos and confusion. The result is more damage. As it became obvious the Coronavirus was more than just a potential health scare and declared an international pandemic, some world leaders began to finally pay attention and take action. Others still waited, putting their political agendas ahead of the welfare of their citizens, resulting in more people dying. 

Leaders must show courage, compassion, and capability. Their job is to provide direction, as they navigate us through whatever crisis is at hand. Since they often have to chart their own course, I have developed a LEADERS TO DO LIST:  

• PUT PEOPLE FIRST

People's welfare needs to come first, before profit, politics, or any personal agenda. True leaders put their people before anything else-this is where real leaders show their TRUE CAPACITY TO LEAD, courage, as well as their true core values.

• TRANSPARENCY

Lack of transparency and communication is costing lives and livelihood. Leaders need to tell the truth, in real-time, as things evolve, not after the fact. It's important for people to be able to process what's really happening so they understand how to respond and take care of themselves. People are usually more afraid of what they imagine than what they actually know. Transparency helps people cope by enabling them to prepare properly.

• RE-ESTABLISH PUBLIC CONFIDENCE

Now is not the time to try and sugarcoat the situation or worry about putting your best face forward. People trust leaders who tell the truth and provide them with real information. It is better to be real and accurate in your communication than risk losing people's confidence by holding back or not providing all the facts available. 

• CREATE CREDIBILITY IN THE MIDST OF A FINANCIAL CRISIS

Leaders must deliver on their promises and protect and support the people they serve. They must show they have people's best interests at heart. Leaders need to protect people by providing proper financial interventions when and where required. They must develop and monitor rules and regulations to prevent price-gauging and excessive hoarding, which only fuels fear and makes things worse. Leaders need to provide the financial support to educate, train and equip people with the tools they need to work virtually if they cannot continue working the way they normally do.

• DEMONSTRATE PROGRESS

Communicate what steps are being taken to solve the problem. Show how those steps are being used to generate solutions, and inform people about how things are progressing, day by day. Let them know what you've already accomplished and what will be happening next.                                                                              

• CREATE TRUST IN PUBLIC HEALTH

Leaders need to move fast to equip the population with everything they need to feel properly prepared to handle the current problem. Testing needs to be made readily available to those who need it. Supplies of hand sanitizer and other important necessities should be readily available and easily distributed, so people don't feel compelled to hoard essentials they may or may not need.

• HAVE GLOBAL COMPASSION. UNDERSTAND THE GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY

The world today is a global village. What happens in one part of the world affects us all. The only way we can really fight this current crisis is by uniting together to help each other. Leaders must learn to work together for the greater good and motivate people to do the same.

The world today requires servant leadership, leading with intention and a focus on others that is built on a strong foundation of love, humility, and servanthood. These qualities are not only the basics of the core values of leadership but of human nature.  At a time like this, people need to remember those core values of love, compassion, caring and kindness in how they treat each other. As daunting as the current Corona crisis may seem, it offers us a unique opportunity to return to those values and unite together, enabling us to endure whatever global challenges come our way. 

Farshad Asl www.farshadasl.com