Leadership During a Crisis or at Any Time

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have talked and written a lot about what characteristics are needed to lead in a crisis. Our present situation has called forth the best in leaders but also has identified gaps that might not have been apparent or crucial before.

As I listened to one of the speakers at the 2020 Global Leadership Conference, I realized that the characteristics for successful leadership in a crisis are the same that are needed for leadership at any time.

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic teaches at University College London and Columbia University and is also the Chief Talent Scientist at ManPowerGroup. He and his team have done extensive research on resilience during the pandemic, but their findings are applicable at any time. Here are the characteristics or traits they identified of a successful leader.

Intelligence--the ability to learn quickly.
Curiosity--knowing what you don’t know.
Humility--willing to listen, accept and embrace complexity and uncertainty, know one’s own limitations.
Resilience--managing one’s emotions (anxiety, etc.) and knowing how to express them appropriately.
Empathy--identifying with both the thoughts and feelings of others.
Integrity--being consistent and able to exercise self-control.

These are the type of competencies we consider when we talk about the Social and Emotional Intelligence of leaders. Social and Emotional Intelligence is being aware of one’s own emotions, and the emotions of others, IN THE MOMENT, and then using that information to manage one’s self and one’s relationships.

The good news is that these are not necessarily innate traits but can be learned through awareness, practice, and coaching.

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