COVID-19!
It is a test for all of us. It is testing the humans we are. It is testing all of us, in ways we never knew possible. It is forcing many of us to ask big existential questions.
We asked them too, and the answers kept pointing to leadership.
And that was the answer provided by many of our ancestors. They had shared their wisdom with us through many forms. For example, the Holy Quran addresses all of us as successors.
“And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees [of rank] that He may try you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.” (6:165)
We all are leaders; it is a role tailored for us. We are meant to lead one another from bad to good, from good to better, down up, ill to well, illiterate to literate, hungry to full, and so on. We are meant to build our world and sustain it—dirt to gardens, crops to food for all, bricks to houses, etc.
However, it does take a special kind of person to build others for the collective good; it is not easy to be a leader, but not impossible.
Therefore, we decided to make a list of some of the qualities we must encompass to pass this test and become the leaders we were destined to be. It is a gentle reminder for us and others.
Going beyond the rhetoric – the leader I want in a crisis:
Awareness: Leadership takes awareness; it is awareness of self, others, and surroundings. Lao Tzu best said it:
“Knowing others is wisdom.
Knowing the self is enlightenment.
Mastering others requires force;
Mastering the self requires strength;
He who knows he has enough is rich.
Perseverance is a sign of will power.”
Trust and Delegation: We mentioned earlier that a leader is someone who builds others. One of the ways a leader can do so is trusting others through delegating. However, delegation requires knowing the strength of others, and building on them.
Empathetic: A person who genuinely cares and takes time to contain others, by allowing them to vent and really listen. We all need to hear supportive words in such times, no one wants to feel left out or alone.
Confident: A leader is confident in expressing their vision in challenging times and showing exemplary behavior. Imitation is the highest form of flattery, and a leader who leads by example will inspire others to follow suit.
This includes preparing the teams on all levels to demonstrate solidarity toward each other and the collective good.
Focused: A leader is someone who does not lose focus; their minds’ eyes are locked on the target; they see the bigger picture. A focused leader, during times of crisis and normal times, motivates teams to work together for a bigger goal. Subsequently, creating an environment that unites the team. Teams thrive in such environments, and they are prepared to calmly handle any challenge presented.
Are we expecting superhumans?
Not really.
We are all humans; we have our own personal fears and anxieties. We have our many roles in life, whether at work, home, school, or the streets. Yet, leadership is the one quality we must harness in such times.
And so, as leaders, we need to ask the following:
What will we learn from the ongoing crisis?
What kind of leader will you be post Corona?
What kind of human do you aspire to be?
Written by: Bakhtiar Safi, Sona Lakhanpal, Hani Selim
