Leadership in the times of COVID-19

The current situation poses an enormous challenge for leaders across the world. The uncertainty embedded in this situation makes the ‘leadership challenge’ even more complex. Today, leaders face innumerable ‘leadership dilemmas’ and conflicting demands, and most of these do not have a simple binary answer. Considering opposing perspectives is vital, especially in a situation where both the perspectives seem logical, it almost is like a game that cannot be won. In short, leadership demands are of an unprecedented nature.

Based on the evidence so far, we have seen five fundamental themes of resilient leadership during the COVID-19 crisis that constitute successful leadership behaviours.

“Seek and reinforce solutions that align with your purpose and societal obligations and serve the heart of the organisations.”

One of the most fundamental asks from leaders has been to act from ‘their heart.’ As the pandemic started to make its presence felt, we saw overwhelming evidence of leaders recognising and empathising with the human side of the upheaval. It was evident that great leaders prioritised people over business.

Resilient leaders often applied the same principles to better serve their customers, especially during a crisis. Designing for the customer’s heart starts with understanding how it may have changed dramatically from earlier perceptions.

As organisations begin the recovery process, leaders will need to stay committed to the principles of empathy and well-being of the employees.

The leadership DNA

The leaders who exhibit these behaviours share a common DNA. Their ability to think from the head and the heart, put the mission first, prioritise speed over elegance, own the narrative, and take the long view is derived from clearly distinguishable leadership characteristics or DNA. All these actions together constitute the response of resilient leaders in times of crises.

At Deloitte, we believe that the DNA of leaders is their ability to think, act, and interact differently.14 When the situation is that of crisis, the accent on these asks from leaders is even more heightened. The following constitutes the DNA of leaders who have shone through in these times and have created impact on people and societies they lead: