Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director of LuLu Financial Group, on how a true leader can stand out in times of crisis.

As the world grapples with the ongoing pandemic, leaders across the world have been forced to channelise their learnings and experiences like never before. It is very easy to get carried away by the emotional factor of the crisis, and it’s here that a true leader can stand out among his peers.

The biggest challenge is to stay calm amidst the information overload and visible stress on your team members’ faces. It is here that being level-headed helps. While it is required to be empathetic to others’ concerns, a leader needs to establish a tone of individuality to assure those around him, while not caving into their fears. Knowing the boundaries and having the presence of mind on what to speak in front of employees will go a long way in keeping distractions aside at the workplace.

It also pays to be a leader who doesn’t seem confused himself, during these uncertain times. Precious moments of solitude should be used to reflect on the day’s crucial events and plan measures to retain the trust of your employees with sincerity.

“Having the foresight to make wise choices at this crucial time will have a positive bearing on the entire team in the long-run.”

Strong leaders will also need to display a high degree of compassion for their team members, with an empathetic understanding of their fears and insecurities. This could be in matters related to jobs, salaries, personal health etc., Keeping an open communication channel and listening to everyone will give each team member a sense of belonging to the decision-making process. This will help remove unnecessary fears and boost productivity, with everyone continuing their work in line with the leader’s goals.

And finally, if anything today’s situation has taught us, it is that we cannot shun technology anymore. However non-tech savvy a leader maybe, he should be flexible enough to see technology as an enabler of processes that will ultimately benefit everyone. Having the foresight to make wise choices at this crucial time will have a positive bearing on the entire team in the long-run.