Crises and business challenges are the test of true leadership. And the Coronavirus pandemic has been the most challenging crisis of recent times. The world had not seen a catastrophe of this scale since the Spanish flu of 1918. Besides tumbling down trade and economy, this health emergency has already cost thousands of lives, millions of jobs and given every organization a check on by highlighting the gaps in their operational systems and work culture across the world.   To restore the organizational operation and world economy to normalcy, it would require every leader to come to the frontline and lead out loud. Here are 7 critical skills that every leader MUST possess to uplift their organization from the shadows of the Coronavirus crisis in the aftermath:  

1. Effective Communication

In times of crisis, nothing is more significant and critical than an effective communication strategy. The communication must be well-informed on the current situation, state clear objectives and expectations and be transparent about any change in the policies or business vision. Especially at a time when organizations are conducting remote operations, regular and open communication is vital as it can mean the difference between productivity and counter-productivity.  

2. Empathy and Compassion

With uncertainties, complexities and apprehension rising by the day, empathy and compassion will serve as the cornerstone for great leadership. Being a great listener and heeding to teams’ challenges can help resolve conflicts and find better and people-centric solutions.  

3. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence shapes our interactions with others and our understanding of ourselves. Research suggests it is responsible for as much as 80% of the success in our lives. Leaders with high emotional intelligence create more connected and motivated teams as they have the ability to build strong relationships and inspire others.  

4. Agility

The Coronavirus pandemic has caused disruption across businesses. And disruption implies change in demands of the people and the businesses. Hence leaders must be more agile and they must foster the same agility among their teams to catch up with the pace of the evolving market.  

5. Strong Influence

Nothing defines leaders’ success better than a measure of influence they have over their people. Extraordinary times are a true test of leadership. And influence requires leaders to have unshakable certainty in themselves and those they lead – to leave an effect on the actions, behavior, opinions of others – to get things done. To be an effective influence requires both substance and style.  

6. Delegation Expertise

Another one of critical skills, is delegation. Effective delegation leads to motivated teams, improved performance and better time management as against confusion, frustration, and de-motivation of the team in case of poor delegation. Managers must understand what delegation is, address barriers of delegation and work with a delegation planning guide on their real-world situation to determine what to delegate and who to delegate to.  

7. Effective Decision Making

The ability to make decisions and sticking to it is the cornerstone of good leadership. Decision making is an on-going process in every business; large or small. Leaders must make tough decisions through rational thinking which can get affected by biases, feelings & perceptions of oneself and others. Learning the art of critical thinking to take balanced and accurate decisions can be a game-changer in VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world.

To help leaders and organizations continue building capabilities, HR Anexi has started offering virtual learning sessions. Know more about HR Anexi Academy of Virtual Learning.