The pandemic and nationwide demonstrations for racial justice have shined a spotlight on CEOs’ leadership styles in crisis. Leadership is complex. Even in the best of times, leaders must make tough decisions with imperfect information. And, there’s an art to compelling teams to respond, adapt, and act. Employees look to leaders to empathize, minimize fear, instill confidence, reinforce values, and swiftly address challenges.
A Fast Company article noted servant leadership as a game changer, elevating perceptions of leaders and their brands. It was unsurprising to me that the leaders with the greatest boost in reputation were perceived to take care of people and our society. While it may seem obvious, it’s not the common way to evaluate a CEO’s value.
Focusing on people and purpose is the foundation of servant leadership, qualities I believe in. In times of great changes in our lives and businesses, servant leaders and their ability to empathize and draw insights from stakeholders, are best positioned to create the stability needed to survive and thrive. If you put purpose, people, and values at the forefront of decisions, executing on other business fundamentals fall into place – and your stakeholders will place high value on your leadership and results.
Source: How the public perception of CEOs has shifted during the pandemic