Posted on 12 January 2021

Centre for Creative Leadership (CCL) recently released a report on the importance of leaders “burning bright” rather than “burning out” as they face the current challenges. As representatives of their organisations, employees and stakeholders alike look to leaders for vital clues about how to feel, think and act in the face of the pandemic.

While it is easy to advise leaders to “think positively” or “rise to the challenge”, what does that really mean? The report put together some clear steps for positive leadership during the global crisis. Through interviews with leaders across Southeast-Asia, the picture that emerges shows leaders who tackled challenges proactively, acted based on organisational values, and kept a people-centric approach when steering their decisions.

The actionables include:

1. ORIENT to Find Your Bearings
   Confine thinking to the current situation only
   Maintain healthy scepticism, not immediately accepting everything you hear

2. SENSE-MAKING through Wisdom of the Crowds
   Create a forum for tapping into collective wisdom
   Lean on external formal and informal networks

3. REFLECT on Your Experiences
   Reflect on past victories to gain self-confidence
   Personal non-work experiences can also be powerful teachers

4. Understand Your VALUES
   Have formal and informal conversations with key stakeholders to resolve value dissonance
   Be aware of potential biases

5. TRIAGE Mindfully for Maximum Impact
   Appreciate the difference between “urgent” and “important”
   Prioritise people issues over everything else

6. STRATEGISE with a War-Gaming Mentality
   Create potential scenarios and action triggers
   Think in terms of days and weeks, not years

7. EXECUTE Dispassionately
   Differentiate between crises management and crisis leadership
   Focus disproportionately on communication

8. CONNECT Authentically
   Humility and empathy helps
   Being vulnerable is seen as authentic

9. Encash TRUST Capital
   Think loyalty, integrity, capability
   Use trust capital to set direction, get alignment, develop commitment

10. RECHARGE Your Energy Pool
    Defocus from the ongoing crisis on a regular basis
    Avoid energy-sapping, negative, demoralising media reports

11. RECALIBRATE as Each Crisis Unfolds
    Reassess the environment regularly to unearth hidden opportunities
    Maintain customer centricity

12. PIVOT to Leap Ahead
    Think partnerships and collaboration
    Look for new opportunities, or doing old things in new ways

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