The coronavirus pandemic has challenged the world in an unprecedented manner. At the close of the year 2019, nobody could have imagined that we would be soon facing one of the toughest survival battles since the culmination of the second world war.

Most of the countries were totally unprepared to deal with the coronavirus (COVID- 19) crisis. After all, there were no manuals, rulebooks, or university courses available to deal with the catastrophe of such a black swan event.

In such situations, it is very easy to lose optimism. But, that’s where faith, positivity, and hope play a pivotal role and guide us the way toward new beginnings. We need to constantly remind ourselves that every bit of the world is transitory, and this, too, shall pass. Tomorrow will be a bright new day! Our hope gets us moving in the morning, encourage us to put on our masks, maintain social distancing, and focus on work.

Dealing with the implications of the pandemic

It is also true that people, families, and society will feel the impact of the COVID-19 for a really long time. They would need a considerable effort to heal themselves. We can attribute this to many reasons. Fear is perhaps one of the most significant factors. Fear of losing livelihood; fear of not being around with the people we care, during such times; fear of missing out on EMI payments, fear of business not picking up, fear of investments plummeting, and more. Fear is infectious.

Another critical aspect is Anxiety. Anxiety deals with the core question – what may happen next? This is a question that can rattle individuals, especially in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. For many people, managing anxiety is a herculean task, and it can drain the energy, even in the best of times. Imagine, how bad would be the situation for many people during the COVID-19 pandemic when everything is so uncertain.

Many organizations and leaders have responded to this aspect through several innovative and considerate ways. We have navigated through our share of lockdown, containment, and restrictions.  In many ways, we can say with confidence that we now know what living through COVID is all about. However, it is also important to realize that the journey is not yet over, and it’s time to open up and proceed along. It’s time to deal with our fears and anxieties!

Inspire change

The dual challenge of fear and anxiety can only be conquered by Inspiration. Inspiration as Hope, Inspiration as Clarity, Inspiration as Courage, Inspiration as Confidence, Inspiration as Energy and Inspiration as Empathy. If there was ever a need, when people needed a massive dose of inspiration, it is at present. The way leaders in organizations engage with their people in the coming months would define how much they can address the dual challenge of fear and anxiety. This is of great significance as organizations would continue to fight the battle of survival, stability, and future scale-up, which requires inspiration in its own unique way.

There is no doubt that many leaders would find it difficult to get inspired before inspiring others. Like all humans, leaders are also fronting their worst fears and anxieties. In a rapidly changing post COVID world, leaders are expected to react faster, deliver results quickly, innovate speedily, make tough decisions never taken before, and meet the commitments made to stakeholders. They can run at full tilt to deal with this situation, or they may choose to pause, reflect, and come face to face with their fears and anxieties. Whichever route they take, they are expected to find wisdom for themselves and their teams.

As such, it would make a great sense for the leaders to find the time and inspiration for themselves and the others who are around them. It may not be a bad idea to get off the treadmill and connect with their source. Coming face to face with one’s vulnerabilities, recalibrating strengths and creating a compelling narrative around hope, clarity, courage, confidence, energy, and empathy might end up being the most significant contribution leaders could make in 2020.

How well, the leaders deal with their fears, and anxieties would translate to how well they enable their people to deal with their fears and anxieties. In the months ahead, ‘more human’ leaders who are not shy about their vulnerabilities are likely to inspire their troops better than others.

It would be interesting to see who can exhibit the leadership mettle and encourage in a situation that organizations have never confronted before.