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.
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