At Battlefield Leadership, we believe that three core tenets of strong leadership are character, courage and competence. In our executive leadership programs, we use history to help today’s leaders experience the weight, impact and consequences of the decisions historical figures made in shaping our country’s past to help strengthen their leadership skills for their future. The best leaders who fully embrace and master these tenets were, and continue to be, put to the test with the disruptive impact to work and our lives that the pandemic caused.
What leadership challenges do our Battlefield Leadership facilitators consistently see, especially considering unforeseen issues and opportunities brought forth by the pandemic? How can history teach today’s executives leadership lessons to help overcome them?
Here are three:
1. Communication from the Top
When everyone suddenly began working through virtual platforms full time, many organizations struggled to adapt to being scattered and physically detached from their teams and customers. In a virtual or even hybrid setting, it is even more important to ensure that your team maintains focus on their organization’s goals. Having clear communication from the top is imperative for success. Did the leader’s intent and vision cascade throughout the organization or is there confusion? Was the message sent the message that was received?
2. Organizational Culture
Leaders create their organization’s culture which produces behaviors within their teams that create results. When organizations are upended, whether by events out of their control or ones that bubble up internally, the cracks in the armor are amplified. Are leaders living up to the organizational values and are they taking ownership to drive desired behaviors?
3. Leadership and Organizational Agility
The pandemic put a spotlight on leadership deficiencies. Being able to align your team and pivot quickly when opportunities arise is a differentiating factor between those who thrive versus those who just survive or even damage their brand. Just because an opportunity lands on your doorstep doesn’t mean leaders and organizations are able to capitalize on them.
Through our unique programs, leaders from Fortune 500 companies, government entities and higher education institutions learn how to overcome these challenges and transform their organizations, positioning them for future successes. Find out how Battlefield Leadership can help yours by emailing info@battlefieldleadership.com or by calling 864.386.9637.