COVID-19 and the Leadership Crisis

In uncertain times, leaders have the responsibility to understand the new paradigm and set a new direction for their company. This is not an easy task.

The most common reaction to uncertainty is to fall back on what we know best – what has worked in the past – even if it no longer applies today.

Leadership, however, is not just about just one person – it’s about involving everyone in the organization in creating change and developing new capabilities.

And this requires a shift in thinking about leadership: we need to recognize that leadership is not a status bestowed on individuals, but an ongoing process of learning and development in which we can all participate.

This means creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to take on a leadership role (even if they do not have an official title). It means encouraging people to learn from each other and share their knowledge across departments and functions.

Delve at Desautels McGill‘s new podcast series, The “New Normal”, invited me to discuss the management implications of the pandemic. Delve is McGill’s business publication, led by Prof. Saku Mantere. Think HBR, but in Canada.