Now that much of the world is moving toward reopening after the COVID lockdown, it’s time to explore the many ways our lives and organizations will change in the post-pandemic society. In our recent survey, “Compassionate Leadership Amid the Chaos,” we asked participants “What do you believe could come out of this crisis?”
In White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, Robin DiAngelo carefully examines the roots of the modern American racial structure and the reasons it is so difficult to acknowledge the pervasiveness of racial bias. She offers a path forward for white people to dismantle the grossly inequitable structure within which we all live.
When it comes to layoffs, the research is clear: avoid them when you can. Layoffs can have a highly detrimental impact by eroding trust, undermining shared values, and increasing negative behaviors. Yet there are times, like the current crisis, when layoffs may be an unavoidable reality for your organization. How can you lead compassionately while carrying out such a painful agenda?
Laura Berland and Evan Harrel of the Center for Compassionate Leadership recently sat down with Chris Whitehead for his podcast, The Compassionate Leader Interview. Listen to the podcast here and read a summary of the interview. (Note: Podcast was recorded prior to COVID-19 galvanizing everyone’s focus, and therefore does not touch on the global pandemic.)
In our recent survey on “Compassionate Leadership Amid the Chaos,” we asked respondents which emotions they have been experiencing during the crisis. The responses of leaders and team members diverged substantially, and leaders can learn and take action based on these differences. We recommend the steps to take in order to build more effective teams.
In our conversations with many colleagues around the globe since the shelter-in-place rules went into effect a few short weeks ago, we’ve noticed how leaders are translating their compassionate leadership style to the virtual environment. Along with our own experiences teaching, facilitating, and convening on Zoom since its debut, we share these observations and ideas for weaving more compassion into your new regime of leading by remote connection.
