We are all very familiar with the world of leadership in a stable environment, we have enjoyed a stable environment for an unprecedented amount of time and been able to create and train people in leadership practises to get the best out of the our people.  It is interesting to now see where leadership steps up when we are operating in a totally chaotic environment, I’m not talking about VUCA, I’m talking about true chaos, something we haven’t faced since the great depression, people from overseas may have experienced in war.  This is where a totally destructive outside element, totally out of your control, is actually doing real harm to your population, that is the chaos that Corona  has thrown us into.  It’s bigger than fire, flood, or earthquakes, its bigger than just ‘uncertainty’.   It requires leadership, but where does that leadership come from and what does it look like if we’ve never faced this situation before.

 

Here are ten tips for reactive leadership:

 

  1. There is no one best way, be authentic, and lead from the front
  2. Surround yourself with quality people and advisors – and listen to them
  3. Inspire confidence in those around you
  4. Keep your eyes on the end game – single minded vision and focus
  5. Lead for the masses not the individual(s) – bordering on ruthlessness
  6. Be determined without every wavering – an indominable spirit
  7. Hold and display good moral and values
  8. Don’t dwell on errors
  9. Make the best decision you can based on the information you have at the time.
  10. Be agile, as information changes so must your response.

 

People have studied war time leaders for many years, everyone is an individual and leaders achieve what they need to achieve through different strategies and personality, but there are some commonalities, focus on these and you will make the best of even the most distressing situations.