There have been pandemics and epidemics in the past, but Covid-19, out of all of them, is very different Covid not only changed but also escalated everything. The future arrived all at once and not incrementally over time.
The traditional ways of doing things were drastically altered during a time when everyone was experiencing health risks and behavioural changes. Many didn't realise that the future was upon them.
We've identified five critical shifts you need to make to lead the future that is here now:
Approaching Certainty to confidence:
Something is comforting in knowing that we know the future. Nobody talked about Covid until it happened because we all believed there would not be a plague in 2020, even though we knew it was possible.
We can't realistically be sure of what will happen worldwide, especially concerning significant events. What can we do? As an alternative, we should ensure we have the confidence to succeed in an uncertain world. "We will find a way" is more than a cliché; it is a learned behaviour.
Agility and Experimentation:
In a world where everything is changing simultaneously, planning and process are a stumbling block to good leader performance and can only be adjusted periodically. However, in a post-Covid world, where everything changes all at once, planning and process are an anchor.
It is not true that planning is not essential or that you shouldn't plan the process that can save time and effort. However, neither is guaranteed to last without being affected by unforeseen circumstances, new customer demands, or better technology. Don't let bureaucracy, slow decision-making, or outdated rules hinder experiments. It is important to do experiments quickly for experimentation to be successful.
From motivation to inspiration:
Covid changed or eliminated many of the rewards we received from our work. Sometimes, inspiration was the only thing keeping us going. Inspiration is about the meaning we derive from our work or even why we work.
To inspire isn't complicated or mysterious. It is about understanding the crucial reasons for the work and fulfilling those reasons. Inspiration comes from the work itself and how the leader can demonstrate the value and importance of the work.
Experience with emotion:
If you can create positive emotion when interacting with customers, they will tell others, spend more, and return. It's challenging to have a good experience and yet not be happy. Sometimes the experience was good but not what you expected or desired. Your customers live in a challenging world. If you can create positive emotion when interacting with them, they will tell others, spend more, and return.
A positive customer experience is essential, but your customer's perception of it is just as crucial. Most companies do not design their services and workplaces for positive emotions.
Culture to structure:
There is no more significant concept in business today than culture, which determines behaviour at work or home. Culture is what we think and believe and determines what we do and how we do it.
Organisation charts tell us about people and departments, but they don't tell us about teamwork, camaraderie, shared values, or commitment. Many organisations have a culture that a leader inherits by default, for good or foul. But great leaders bend culture to their wishes and shape it of their own accord.
The secret to successful leadership lies in understanding what makes unsuccessful leaders unsuccessful. They either aren't clear on what they're trying to do, or they are clear but aren't doing the right things consistently. The most crucial thing all great leaders have in common is intentionality, being clear about what you're trying to achieve and following through with the right actions every day.