Grant Sexton – Founder and Executive Chairman
The word “DISRUPTION” has been used often in recent years to describe many of the incredible changes that occur when new innovations or technology totally DISRUPT and force significant CHANGE on entire industries or market segments.
The internet revolutionised how we access information and entertainment and the way in which we communicate, both in business and our personal lives. FaceBook, Twitter and LinkedIn have all revolutionised social interaction and professional relationships.
The introduction of digital photography decimated well established Fortune 500 companies such as Kodak and Polaroid. In 2020, many people no longer use cameras or wear watches as the high quality of the digital photography and other features on smart phones now satisfy most peoples’ daily needs.
Uber threatened, and almost decimated the taxi industry worldwide. Subsequently the popularity of Uber Eats and similar food delivery services has transformed millions of peoples’ eating habits, dramatically disrupting the viability and business models of many restaurants. Some have seen up to 50% of their patronage transition from “Dine In” to “Home Delivery”.
So, entering this year – 2020, most of us had already experienced and successfully lived through many amazing changes to different aspects of our lives created by DISRUPTION. We were confident, well prepared and felt ready to cope with any new challenges or changes thrown our way.
However, nobody anticipated the extent of the GLOBAL DISRUPTION created by the COVID-19 virus crisis. This crisis hasn’t just disrupted individuals lives and how businesses operate worldwide. It has threatened the future of many industries and thrown entire governments into disarray whilst devastating the economies of most nations.
Over the last eight months we have all, in our own ways, experienced fear, doubt, worry and confusion during the various levels of infection and restrictions. We were forced to rapidly adapt to an entirely new environment and set of rules in our day to day lives. These long periods of restrictions took away our freedom to make choices or plan ahead, whether it be for a holiday, a career decision, or a celebration. The State in which we lived determined the extent of our freedom of movement, our options for family and social interaction and our working conditions.
However, we now appear to be relatively infection free with open borders Xmas and a brand new year lays ahead of us.
Australia’s response to COVID-19 has become the envy of the world, despite several significant hiccups in our most populous states. Even the new US President-elect is keenly interested in how we’ve conquered the global virus – nationally and state by state. However, there are still changes being made to preserve the hard-won status of being COVID-free. The next challenge is how organisations and industries rebound, rebuild and come back strongly for the future.
We all know, there will be a “Different Normal” evolving in 2021. Different in the way that both State and Federal governments embark on recovering the massive debts that we have incurred, and are continuing to incur. Different, in the way that organisations and industries adapt and adopt new attitudes, approaches and processes in order to be successful. Different, in the way people adjust to their work situation and embrace new concepts for their work/life balance and personal lives.
With thousands of businesses closing their doors, and up to a million people out of work as we move into 2021, one thing is certain and cannot be denied –
There has never been a greater need in this country for leadership than now.
Leadership in our families, social environments, communities, churches, businesses and industries, as well as within Local, State and Federal Governments.
But what sort of leadership are people in Australia and New Zealand looking for? What is the essence of the leadership that will make a positive difference and restore our collective confidence? The 2 attached articles from the 2020 L.E.A.D. Survey provide significant insights for our readers:
- Leading through COVID (L.E.A.D. Survey 2020)
- Post COVID – the New Normal (L.E.A.D. Survey 2020)
The following extract from LMA’s next edition of “The Challenge of Leadership” program exemplifies the leadership Characteristics that will lead to success in the future.
“Leadership goes beyond management. Genuine leadership involves gaining engagement and commitment from those you lead so they, like you, understand and willingly play their part in achieving the overall purpose and success of the organisation.
Leadership involves the ability to communicate, to build confidence, to enable and to empower people to take meaningful and productive actions.
Leadership is the ability to take others to new heights through demonstrating respect and care for them as individuals and their ability to grow and develop.
Leadership requires the qualities to inspire and guide others through the process of change and personal and professional development as they join you on a transformational journey of learning and continuous improvement.
Leadership is moving beyond the Positional Power of your title into developing Personal Power through earning the respect and trust of those you lead.
Powerful results flow from team members who willingly and enthusiastically follow a leader who is committed to developing their people and creating a high performance work environment”.
This newsletter provides important insights about different aspects of leadership through and post COVD-19 with 5 articles on the following topics:
- Leading through COVID (L.E.A.D. Survey 2020)
- Define your Leadership through Positive Expectancy
- Providing Clarity of Direction and Vision
- Post COVID – The “New Normal” (L.E.A.D. Survey 2020)
- Building Strong Relationships in 2021 – A checklist for leaders
We hope that these will be valuable contributors to your leadership journey and success in 2021. Have a great Xmas and holiday period.
