When we think of the word ‘leadership,’ the first thoughts that might come to mind are people of power, whether it’s a president, prime minister, or a military general. However, being a leader does not have to apply to only a certain group of people in the world – you can be a leader as a parent, friend, or co-worker and be just as much an influence. Being a leader is even more important in a time of crisis, and is needed to bring people together and provide support and direction. Want some extra leverage? Then continue on for Leadership: 3 Keys to Getting Through Times of Crisis!
1. Be a Strong Communicator
In a time of crisis, one of the most important steps a leader needs to take is to inform people of the situation in its entirety.
This may seem obvious, but knowledge is power, and it’s necessary for everyone to be on the same page. For example, if a tsunami were to strike Indonesia, the best thing for a leader to do is to alert the public and provide everyone with the proper safety and evacuation guidelines.
A good leader is someone that takes the extra step of ensuring the safety and protection of those around them.
2. Be Empathetic
While it is important for a leader to offer direction in a crisis, it is just as meaningful to provide empathy.
Leaders do not have to be these cold, empty figures we might imagine them to be. In fact, a leader with empathy is someone you’ll find more trustworthy, because you will feel like they value your needs and care about your success.
In Simon Sinek’s Ted Talk, “Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe”, he explains that a good leader wishes for people to succeed and achieve better than they could have imagined for themselves.
That is the epitome of empathy and is necessary for a leader, especially in a time of crisis.
3. Be Resilient
According to Angela Duckworth, the world’s leading expert on the subject of grit, she says that “grit is passion and sustained persistence applied toward long term achievement, with no particular concern for rewards or recognition along the way.”
Grit is what is needed to be a successful leader – and it has nothing to do with talent or skill.
Let’s say, for example, you are trying to assist your 80 year-old grandmother on how to connect on Zoom for a family video call. While it does require you to have some knowledge with the platform, mainly the quality you will need is sustained patience and persistence, as mentioned previously by Duckworth.
With the quality of resilience, you can accomplish anything!
Life throws curveballs at everyone, and they can threaten to knock you down. However, if you manifest strong communication, empathy, and grit, you will never be disappointed. You will gain heaps of wisdom, insight and strength of character along the way by dint of engagement. True leadership will never let you down in the long run, just have it in your mind and heart never to quit!
What are your thoughts on leadership? Do you have the strength of vision? Let us know in the comments below, and join in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!
