Communication During COVID and Crisis [Part 5/6]: Developing Leaders Within

The world continues to change, rapidly. Last time we talked about communicating internally, here’s a brief overview of those tips:
Be intentional
Be empathetic
Revisit policies and procedures
Identify a communication czar
Create fair and equitable remote work and remote work guidelines
We have two podcasts left in this series and I wanted to talk about something a little different. Forward-thinking non-profits, and other organizations, should use this time as an opportunity to develop leaders within. For varying reasons: it is a good time to delegate (so as to not be overwhelmed); the focus on virtual professional development has never been greater; and you can leave a legacy of success that outlasts you.
Tip 1: Delegation
Establish your point person, but engage other talented people.
Be careful because you don’t want to overwhelm, but the time is ripe to call people in your organization to add continual value-we are in a state of urgency and, practically, a state of urgency will separate out levels of competency.
Are there capable people in your organization asking for more responsibility? Oblige them. This HBR article is worth your time right now. The article addresses leading during a crisis.
Delegating during a crisis has risks:
The person may not work well under crisis
The task could be performed incorrectly
But, as the leader, how much bandwidth do you have right now? Is the delegation risk worth the reward?
Tip 2: Encourage (and develop) Virtual Training and Professional Development
This is a big one-we have entered, somewhat reluctantly for some, the digital development age.
Digital training can be cost effective and, I would argue, just as effective.
Millennials and Gen Z, those who are craving for professional development, have long preferred digital options
So, what’s holding you back?
I am passionate about well-executed training and teaching in all contexts, especially virtual-I can help you design, develop, and facilitate virtual or face-to-face training
The time is now to invest in your people and encourage them to invest in themselves
Tip 3: Leave a Legacy
One of my favorite preachers is John Piper, Piper says that during a crisis is not a time to prepare people for suffering. You prepare people to suffer for months, years, and decades before the crisis so that when the crisis occurs, they are ready.
My hope is that you have been preparing your people and have other leaders around you. If not, we need to establish a plan of action to ensure the burden is more equally distributed in the future.
Invest in competent employees with big dreams, establish a line of succession, people may leave, that’s always a risk, but investment is worth it
We are all mortal; will your organization outlast you? It should…
Ultimately, you may not be thinking about developing the leaders around you right now, but it’s a perfect time to do so.
Questions? Comments? Other struggles? Send me an email michaelstrawser@legacyctc.com or visit my website www.legacyctc.com. Let me know how I can help.