Inspiring Leaders And Effective Teams In Times Of Crisis

What does an inspiring leader look like in times of crisis?
How do isolated team members execute strategies smoothly?
In truth Covid-19 is reshaping all our businesses and forces us to refocus on developing inspired leaders and effective teams.

Harvard Business School (HBS) has published valuable insights into how leaders and teams should behave when facing a challenging journey in unchartered waters. They also reflect on what kind of organisation culture will be an asset.

Inspiring Your People With The 7 Cs Of Leadership In Times Of Crisis

We agree with the “7 Leadership Principles for Managing in the Time of Coronavirus” that Professor John Quelch of Harvard Business School highlights:

1. Calm. 
   Everyone around you is looking for a leader who can remain level-headed when facing troubled waters and a spiral of anxiety.
2. Confidence. 
   People rely on you and your leadership. So you have to project confidence that you will be able to successfully deal with challenges, with minimum pain for the organisation’s stakeholders.
3. Communication. 
   Regular AND timely, well managed communication controls the dangers of rumours and fake news.
4. Collaboration. 
   Calling on all your resources throughout the organisation engages people and spreads a feeling of confidence and trust, much needed in times of crisis.
5. Community.
   To set a good example and model community friendly and supportive behaviours is essential.
6. Compassion. 
   The less resilient people in our organisations need to be given the compassion to express their concerns.
7. Cash. 
   Finally, conserving cash determines the future of your business and your people.

Taking The Opportunity To Develop A Trust-Based Culture

The coronavirus challenge offers an opportunity to develop a trust-based culture rapidly, with an organisation-wide honest conversation. Failing to do that could undermine our ability to achieve a trust-based culture for a very long time.

Times of crisis also force us to consider how the organisation can become more agile and adaptable. Clearly processes and systems must accomodate our new needs for rapid communication and for keeping everyone on the same page, connected for effective teamwork, cooperation and participation.

The best leaders break down “silos” and improve workplace culture. They also recognise the importance of caring for the well-being of people as well as productivity. Another recommendation is to reinforce good workplace practices and to reprioritise what really matters.

Bridgeworks Is Ready. What About you?

Such views are nothing new to Bridgeworks. For years we have been working with many organisations to develop inspiring leaders and more effective teams. Now the virus crisis has multiplied the extent of the immediate AND long term challenges. Therefore it amplifies the need to do something about leadership, teams and culture.

At Bridgeworks we had the proven tools and the experience to make a difference. So we owed to our clients to promptly adapt our programs’ format to continue to achieve high impact in a virtual process.

How Well Is Your Company Responding And Preparing A strong Future?

So, out of 10, how is your business culture navigating your people through crisis? Is it inspiring or expiring your team? Is your organisation Culture the best compass to give people direction and purpose?

Now is the time to ensure that your leaders are fully prepared for the many challenges they WILL keep facing in the uncertain conditions ahead of us. That is why Bridgeworks has designed effective virtual workshops incorporating the powerful tools that have been at the heart of our most successful leadership, team and culture programs.

To know more and get started, contact Wayne