Leadership Advisor
‘The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.’ So says leadership expert John Maxwell. How are we responding to the COVID-19 crisis? Is our leadership style still excellent? Are we maintaining a purpose-driven focus?
Our world is reeling from the far-reaching effects of a pandemic that seemingly took hold overnight but that will be with us for a good while to come. All around us, we see evidence of human suffering.
There is no disputing that the COVID 19 climate is one of unprecedented operational uncertainty. Social media is rampant with brutal criticism of business and state leaders. The COVID 19 pandemic has reminded us that change is constant and that it sometimes brings great discomfort.
However, the need for excellence in leadership remains, no matter the crisis at hand. So, how do we remain excellent, focused and optimistic leaders despite the ambient disruption?
This question occupies much of my time. To lead with a clear head, I have prioritised my physical and mental wellbeing. And, for me, a fundamental input is a focus on my faith and lessons from history that are captured in the Bible. Daniel’s story resonates with me strongly.
In 605 BC, Daniel was among Hebrew youths taken hostage from Jerusalem to serve as slaves in Babylon. His name was changed to Belteshazzar and he was forced to speak Chaldean and to accept assimilation at the expense of his loyalty to his God and his people. His identity was stripped away. His very life was on the line. All that he had control over was his character. ‘By his excellent spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps (governors). So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom’ (Daniel 6:3). He chose to remain excellent and against the odds, rose above local governors.
There are examples of excellent leaders all around us who, like Daniel, have remained unwavering during the current crisis. The leadership process is far from perfect, but what gives us the stamina to stay the course through tough times and to own our mistakes and successes is a focus on purpose. I recommend a book on purpose to those I mentor, because only a focus on purpose keeps us rooted to our ‘why’.
Only a connection to our purpose can drive us beyond our perceived limits and allows us to reframe or to see further. At Discovery, our core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. It is a guiding light for me and those I work with during this time.
A leader with an excellent spirit, driven by a strong purpose, is unstoppable.
Choosing excellence in all we do
‘If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader’ (John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States of America)
Leaders are always held to higher standards, and especially during a global crisis. Challenging times put leaders in the line of fire. They face criticism from the public, the media and their people. Currently, leadership may feel tougher than ever. However, as Daniel and many others have shown, even in a crisis, leaders can overcome by holding fast to a spirit of excellence and a strong sense of purpose.
