It’s hard enough to be a leader in good times. But really difficult times can show whether you are worthy of the title of a leader. Like the friends in need are friends indeed, the leaders who are able to stand the test with dignity and hold the poker face in front of the team are true leaders. In this article, we will talk about what makes leaders successful, and especially about what makes leaders successful in hard times.
Table of Contents
Strategical Thinking and Backup Planning Skills
According to the majority, the leader is always the person who will tell you where to go next and illuminate the thorny path with his pocket flashlight. Yes, the ability to lead is one of the key leadership qualities. However, in difficult times this is not enough.
In difficult times, the leader needs very good skills in strategic thinking and planning since the leader’s task is not only to support the team but also to bring it out of the darkness of uncertainty. In simple words, in difficult times, the leader must gather all his creativity and intelligence, develop a strategy, and secondly, a backup plan in case the strategy does not work.
Much More Empathy Than in “Normal” Times
Leadership theories distinguish between different types of leaders, one of which can be strict and the other sympathetic. This may be paradoxical, but in tough times, a sympathetic leader is more likely to maintain respect in the eyes of his team members.
Moreover, difficult times, such as the current pandemic, could turn into a personal tragedy for some of your team members. During this period, they need human empathy and support. The sympathy of their leader will further strengthen the faith of your team in you as a person who is worthy to follow.
Unshakable Inner Confidence and Faith
Yes, leaders are also subject to fears and doubts because we all have a common human nature. The only difference between a leader and an ordinary person is the ability to quickly cope with them and inspire his team with the same strong confidence in a better tomorrow.
In difficult times, you will need an unshakable inner faith in yourself, and in a better future. This is exactly the situation when you most likely have to return to your spirituality and energy component and ask the Universe for even more energy, confidence, faith, and strength.
The Skill to See Opportunities and New Ways
Very often, experts call crisis times the best period for new opportunities. And it is really true. Someone will sink, someone will begin to develop with renewed vigor. Your option is the second scenario. For this reason, it is necessary to be able to see opportunities where other people see a reason to give up. For example, during a pandemic, many companies not only moved to the digital space, but also adapted their products and services, and some even began to target new, potentially suitable audiences.
It is possible to draw only one conclusion from this – difficult times are not an obstacle to development, but an even greater incentive. And your team should know about it.
Even More Focusing on Clear Goals, Metrics, and Indicators
Analytical and predictive thinking is an important skill even in stable conditions. In the face of uncertainty, you will have to learn to focus even more on your goals and be even more careful when evaluating the result.
For example, if you as the head of a company decided to focus more on online sales, you definitely need high-quality content. Read reviews of the best freelance authors at Pick The Writer or the Writing Judge writing services review websites, choose the most suitable assistant, create a piece of content and be sure to track the return after publication. Otherwise, no initiative in times of crisis makes sense.
Conclusion
The leader is forced to overcome various challenges every day even when everything seems to go according to your plan. Difficult times make their own adjustments. During this period, you will have to be more flexible, prudent, and more confident so that your team does not lose heart.
Biography
Anna likes writing from her university years. When she graduated from the Interpreters Department, she realized that translation was not so interesting, as writing was. She trains her skills now working as a freelance writer on different topics. Always she does her best in the posts and articles.