After two months of COVID-19, it’s clear that there is no going back to “normal”—and we can’t just rely on what we’ve done in the past. In her May 18 “Coronavirus Curveball Tip of the Week” video, Bobbie LaPorte shares three questions you can ask to prepare yourself and your team for whatever comes next.
Transcript of Coronavirus Curveball Tip of the Week: How to Chart a Course for Whatever Comes Next
Hi everyone, Bobbie LaPorte here again with this week’s Coronavirus Curveball tip of the week. As we head to the two-month mark of this shutdown, I’ve been thinking about and advising clients on how to prepare for what’s next.
When a business experiences trauma like the Covid virus, historically leaders hunker down and continue what they have always done, and that’s not going to work. Our default is to just want to go back, but there is no going back. No one knows for sure what the next phase will look like, but I do know that we can’t rely on what we’ve done in the past.
And I also know it will be different for every business. Leaders need to think of Covid not as a single event, but rather a recurring disruption to which you will need to adapt continuously and quickly. With the pace at which things are moving and changing in our world, we need to recognize that the cost of delay is much greater now than it was before.
Getting ready for what’s next will require developing a possibilities mindset, as well as thinking about what you’ve learned during this time.
So here’s my tip:
Here are 3 questions to ask yourself to prepare for what’s next:
- How has the business changed (e.g. travel, clients, markets)?
- How have your team member’s needs changed? Everyone is different.
- What have you learned about your leadership during this time?
Starting with these questions will help you chart a course for what’s next, tap into your new self-knowledge and build the mental and emotional flexibility you will need to lead your team through a continuously changing and challenging business landscape.
That’s my message for this week. I’ll see you again next Monday. In the meantime, remember that leadership makes the greatest difference when the world around us is uncertain. Take care of yourself!