• Leadership through difficult times is what leaders get paid for.
During times of crisis, lean on your past experiences. Decisions based on fear are often wrong. Think about how your customers are managing thru this time; their needs and fears. Both intellectual and emotional stamina are required. Seek input from colleagues and peers. This provides ideas and insights and also refreshes and encourages you.
• Be visible; communicate openly and often.
One-to-many talking can sound too simple if you’re not honest about the seriousness of a situation. Fear is to be expected in times of uncertainty. When employees are allowed to see that you are frightened too, but are still leading, this vulnerability actually helps people feel less frightened.
• Set the tone while providing context and perspective.
Leaders must be optimists; not unrealistic, but always offering a sense of purpose. Help employees to gain perspective regarding the situation and to understand the context in which decisions are made.
• Redefine the new normal, but don’t neglect company culture. People want and need to know what you’re thinking. Tell them what you think will happen in the future. On-going remote work, office redesign, digital transformation, process reorganization, and other changes may come. So, company activities that celebrate wins, bring coworkers together (for fun) and ensure that no one is
left behind should be emphasized as well.
• Accelerate your digital transformation.
No surprise here. Adopt new technology and go earlier, deeper, faster…
B2B media executives’ leadership will continue to be critical to their companies’ success and to the productivity and morale of their teams as transformation continues – even when the pandemic is finally, mostly a memory.
