Leading through Uncertainty (Part 1 of 4): Start with Kindness (and start with yourself 😄)
This post is Part One of a four-part email series is entitled, Leading through Uncertainty with Kindness, Resilience, Creativity and Hope. If you would like to receive future emails in this series, please sign up here.
Our work at the Academic Leadership Group is to help leaders face uncertainty, navigate complexity, and create a future-ready organization. In these past couple of weeks, it felt like that mission is now on steroids.
This is the first time in our lifetime that we have witnessed such a global disruption of the world of work. WFH is officially an acronym, and our everyday lives have been completely upended by school closures, shelter-in-place directives, social distancing, and self-isolation.
As we brainstormed how we might help our colleagues and clients through this time of prolonged uncertainty, we reflected on the leader's role and the touchstones that provide guidance. Four touchstones emerged from that conversation: Kindness, Resilience, Creativity and Hope. They are distinct yet related and this series will explore each, with the caveat that the power of these four touchstones lies in their collective synergy.
We start with kindness, because we believe it is what is needed first and foremost during times of chaos, disruption, and overwhelm. We have both experienced stress and overwhelm during these past couple of weeks and have leaned on each other as friends and business partners. Being kind to ourselves and to each other is the foundation that will help us navigate the way forward together—that and a “distant socializing” glass of wine to celebrate ALG’s first anniversary .
Here are a few resources we have curated for you and your team on kindness:
This brief HBR article underscores The Importance of Kindness at Work
Rick Hanson, Ph.D., provides a Free Guide to Self-Compassion
Larry Bacow, Harvard University President's recent open letter is a wonderful example of gratitude and kindness in action
Tara Cousineau, Ph.D. and author of The Kindness Cure, provides a 14-minute video meditation entitled The Great Pause.
If you would like to go deeper, Jamil Zaki’s recent book, The War for Kindness is a wonderful resource. If you would like the “Quick Start Guide,” here it is :)
"Put your oxygen mask on before helping others." It applies when you're 30,000 feet up in the air and it applies on the ground. You cannot give others that which you are not giving yourself. Be kind to yourself. That might mean giving yourself a break and letting yourself know you will not be as productive as “normal”—and that's OK. Slow down. Breathe. Count blessings. Taste the coffee. Remind yourself you are enough.
One kind thing per day for another person. Just one—and see where it goes.
If you are leading a team, you and your team are likely working virtually right now, and for the foreseeable future. Make sure you are focusing as much on the social connective tissue of the team as you are the tasks to be done.
And if you'd like to better understand how to apply these in your specific situation, email us to sign up for office hours. We'd love to chat!