Over the few weeks I have asked dozens of people across the not-for-profit sector what have they learnt about leadership during the pandemic. It’s not a surprise to hear that many people said they were exhausted, had struggled with motivation, felt underprepared and were just focusing on getting through the next few months.

For INGOs there’s also the reality that even with the apparent easing of the pandemic in Europe and North America, large parts of the world remain in a very precarious situation making the pre-COVID models of working impractical.

Working in a VUCA world is now our normal. Volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity have become the staple diet of leadership.

What are the qualities that leaders require if they are going to withstand the pressure of working in these conditions?

• First, while heroic leadership may work for a short term crisis, it fails during a longer term crisis. What happens when the hero or heroine gets exhausted, runs out of ideas or, as we saw quite a number of times, ends up in hospital with COVID? That kind of leadership creates a ‘fundamental point of failure’ in the organisation
• Long term crises require the mobilisation of leadership from right across the organisation, not just the senior team. Working in the unknown requires multiple perspectives and the ability to bring in experience from outside the circle of people we ordinarily work with. Different circumstances, require different people.
• VUCA requires the ability to ‘cross the river, by feeling the stones’. Stepping forward into the unknown, sensing where to place your feet. This means finding a balance of having the courage to go forward and of taking care, so as not to overextend your reach.
• Organisations and leaders that adapt – pivot – rapidly are better able to ride out the storm. Resilience is not about being strong, it’s about being flexible. When the oak tree snaps in the hurricane, the bamboo grove bends to the wind.

If you are interested in developing these qualities, you can. Increasing trust, courage, being able to work with a wider group of people and increasing one’s adaptability are all learnable traits.

Learnable, enjoyable and energising.

If you want to find out more, then please do contact me.