When inspiration defines the real leader

2020 would be remembered for COVID 19 and how this virus literally brought the entire planet on its knees. The disruption & displacement it has caused has been unprecedented. There is no manual or management or university course that prepared anyone for this classical black swan event. But this too shall pass and it would surely be a bright new day tomorrow. That hope makes us get up in the morning, put on our masks, maintain social distancing, and work.

Impact of COVID 19

But the impact the last 3–4 months has had on people, their families, near and dear ones would require significant healing. The impact can be attributed to a number of reasons. Fear has been perhaps the most significant. Fear of losing livelihood, fear of not being around people one cares for the most when they need us the most, fear of missing out on EMI payments, fear of business not picking up, fear of investments tanking, and more. Fear is infectious.

The other aspect to deal with is Anxiety. This is essentially dealing with a core question — what may happen next? The shades of grey in this question, the defused state one finds oneself in, tends to drain the energies out of the best of people in the best of times. One can only imagine what toll COVID would have taken on people. Organizations and leaders therein have responded to this in a number of innovative and considerate ways.

So, what’s next. We have gone through our share of lockdown, containment, and restrictions. In many ways, we can say with confidence that we now know what living through COVID looks like. Of course, we realize that the journey is not yet over, but it is time to open up and move on. Time to deal with our fears and anxieties.

Inspiration the real differentiator

This brings us to Inspiration. The dual challenge of fear and anxiety can only be defeated by Inspiration. Inspiration as Hope, Inspiration as Clarity, Inspiration as Courage, Inspiration as Confidence, Inspiration as Energy, and Inspiration as Empathy to name a few. If there was ever a healthy dose of inspiration needed by people, it is now. The way Leaders in organizations engage with their people in the coming months, would really define how much they are able to address the dual challenge of fear and anxiety.

Leaders would have a difficult journey to traverse — finding their own inspiration 1 st before inspiring others. Like all humans, Leaders would also be facing their worst fears and anxieties. In a rapidly changing post COVID world, leaders would be expected to respond faster, deliver results quicker, innovate faster, make tough calls never taken before and meet the commitments made to stakeholders. They can run faster and faster to deal with this situation or they may choose to pause, reflect, and come face to face with their own fears and anxieties. They are expected to find wisdom for themselves and their teams.

It would make eminent sense for the Leaders to find the time, connect with their source, and find inspiration — for self and for others around them. It may not be a bad idea to get off the treadmill and connect with their own source. Coming face to face with one’s vulnerabilities, recalibrating strengths and creating a compelling narrative around — Hope, Clarity, Courage, Confidence, Energy, and Empathy might end up being the biggest contribution leaders may end up making in 2020.

Leaders displaying their human side

How well the Leaders deal with their own fears and anxieties would translate to how well they help their people deal with their own fears and anxieties. Leaders who are seen as increasingly human in approach and tad vulnerable may be able to inspire their troops better than others.

The coming months would reveal how well leaders are able to infect people with inspiration.

“Sunil Ganesh is the cofounder of Pragyan Advisory, a specialized consulting firm focusing on Leadership, Teams, and Culture. When he is not working with teams or helping organizations realize their purpose and values, he can be found engaging with young minds to help them find their meaning and purpose or reading about Indian or World history or learning about ancient Indian wisdom. He relishes regaling his audience with war stories interspersing it with leadership, team, or values insights.”

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