The COVID Pandemic is a change accelerator. The world is changing at the highest rate ever, not in new ways so much as accelerating the rate of change that was already in motion. (see digitized medical practices, etc) This means that leadership is intensely more exciting, exhilarating, and challenging than normal - simply because of the speed of things.
Here are six things I realize I was already learning but am having to implement faster during this season.
Energy Management - Energy management trumps time management. While super fun and exciting, these days are also very draining, especially with so much loss of sovereignty and control in the details of our lives. Keeping your energy high as a leader, and consistently replenished, is a non-negotiable for sustainability and impact. Learn what re-creates energy for you and insure that you keep producing more. “Please secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others.”
Pace Control - You must control the pace, rather than let it control you. Things are changing and moving fast. The rpm have increased both organizationally and inside every team member and constituent. You must control the pace at which you are operating, rather than surrendering control of that pace to others or events. While you cannot control all pace-modifiers, you must control the ones you can.
Communication Management - You must manage communication rather than be enslaved to being interrupted by it. Communication is more essential than ever! However, a constantly open email, responding to every notification of a new text or slack message, etc is just plain stupid. The energy and effectiveness lost in an interruption, and the energy required to regain momentum, are too expensive to pay for constant communication interruptions.
Media: Social and Other - You must diligently moderate social media and television time. Again, keeping current requires regular and consistent exposure, but constant exposure is a trap and an effectiveness sucker. It is also a stress multiplier.
Fresh Thinking - It is essential to Increase the intake of fresh thinking and learning. More important than ever is the stimulus of fresh thinking, innovative ideation, and think tanks. Items 2-4, left unmanaged, are what kill this one. Time must be allotted for learning, research, discovery, and thinking. It is more critical and powerful than ever.
Naps and Jazz. Ok, this one is a huge personal bias, but I have found that daily short naps (7-15 minutes) are incredible energy-creators. I’ve also discovered Jazz music as a constant background. What a game-changer! It relaxes me while also not imposing any disruption to my thinking and analysis processes. In fact, the calmness and peace that it provides is a multiplier of thinking and analysis for me. I’m using a simple Pandora station called, “Instrumental Jazz” and it’s spectacular.