Resilient Leadership Through Crisis

Many of us are leaders - in the home, in the workplace, in church, in the community, in school, in local government. There are a number of unique leadership challenges at the moment.

Phase 1 - Shock. This has happened to all of us. The shock of the C-19 pandemic. Then Lockdown. As leaders, we have been stripped of almost everything in terms of how we used to lead. For some there is a sense of loss - loss of how you used to lead, how you used to gather, loss of meetings, loss of how you used to communicate, loss of being with people.
Phase 2 - Change. After the shock, we have learnt to change. Fast. How to lead differently. Zoom\Webex. Lots of time on screen, rather than physical meetings. We have worked hard to adapt and to meet the expectations of others.
Phase 4 - Family. In addition to dealing with your own loss of pattern and frames of reference, we may be dealing with an emotionally charged home - partner working from home, home schooling the children, managing elderly parents from afar...even going shopping has changed!
Phase 4 - Loss. 45,000 people have died of C-19 in the UK. 45,000 families are grieving. A lot of people are loosing their jobs. The economic impact has come. Some experts say charities and churches will see a 30% loss in income. We feel the impact of what is happening around us. As leaders, we feel the sense of national grief.
Phase 5 - Restart. As we come out of this crisis a new set of challenges are before us - how to lead now and into the future? How to lead differently, to innovate, sustain, communicate and grow. We are trying to work it all out...

All 5 stages of change and challenge require large amounts of emotional energy. We are wise to not minimise the compound impact above.

So what is the anitidote? What does Resilient Leadership look like at this time?
1. Look after yourself. Read your emotional gauges. Listen to what your body is telling you. Make adjustments.
2. Watch your diet (food, drink, TV and Netflix!). Consume what is good for you.
3. Exercise. Everyday. Walk. Enjoy the outdoors. Get those endorphins going.
4. Invest in nourishing relationships - family and friends who do you good.
5. Rest. This season is exhausting. Sleep well.
6. Holiday. Even though you might have had to cancel the destination, take 2 weeks off to recover for the next big push.
7. Pray. This is bigger than you. God is bigger than you. He can help. Ask Him.

Finally, if you are struggling, please speak to someone, or to your GP.
You may want to read my blog series below: "Avoiding Burnout"...