There’s no doubt about it, this global pandemic is changing the face of humanity and leadership forever. We are seeing it play out now in politics (both here and overseas), at a community level and in business. Today we are witnessing the best and worst of leadership on the world stage. And we are seeing a new brand of leadership emerging to meet community expectations now and beyond.
As many of you well know, I recently started a YouTube series during COVID-19 called Corona-cation, where I interviewed women from around the world so I could understand their experiences during COVID and get their best advice and perspectives for the benefit of myself and others.
The last time I wrote to you, I shared some of the best inspirational advice I’d heard during the series. This time, I’m sharing some of the best leadership advice. There is so much rich diversity in responses relating to leadership but I’ve captured the seven quotes below that seem most relevant right now:

1. Hard calls with high stakes can lead to fatigue and burnout. Home and work is so integrated in this new environment. We are well and truly in a VUCA environment right now and there’s a different type of leadership needed with much more honesty and vulnerability. Catherine Clark, CEO Netball Queensland – Brisbane, Australia
2. Listen to your people and what they are wanting. Our people are loud about what they want to see changed in the new world. We use a technique called ‘Stop and Prop’ – Stop and reflect on what we have learnt and what we want to take forward from this situation. Meredith Wilson, Executive with one of Australia’s largest employers – Brisbane, Australia
3. We’re seeing that the future of work will be completely different. Consider how you can use technology to be more human and show more humanity in your leadership right now and going forward. Yvonne McWey, HR Executive in the Banking Industry – Dublin, Ireland
4. You can use ‘Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs’ as a framework to think about what changes need to occur right now in life and in business. Ali Hill, Organisational Psychologist and CEO of Pragmatic Thinking – Gold Coast, Australia
5. I’ve built my career off the back of 3 coffee dates a week – one in my professional network, one with a potential business partner, and one outside of my comfort zone. It’s all about connections, collaboration and helping each other right now and it’s never been more important. Tory Archbold, Founder of Torstar and Powerful Steps – Sydney Australia
6. To make flexible and remote working really successful, if just one person is on technology, then everyone should be on technology, otherwise it’s not equal. Jo Palmer, Founder of Pointer Remote Roles – Wagga Wagga, Australia
7. Often leaders are leading from a place of logic, but transformational change needs to be led from the heart. Sue McDonnell, Executive Coach and Psychotherapist – Sydney, Australia

These quotes are just a snapshot of some of the rich leadership wisdom captured in the Corona-cation series which you can access here. I look forward to sharing more relevant insights from the series over time. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you as to where you’re seeing inspiring leadership right now and what the challenges are that they are overcoming.
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Naomi White is an executive coach, people strategist, leadership and culture expert, and speaker. For advice, programs, and support on how to set your leaders up to lead effectively in these unusual times, email Naomi at naomi@naomi-white.com or visit www.naomi-white.com
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I am passionate about the power of connections and there’s lots of ways to connect:

• Every Friday at 12pm, I host a small and intimate one hour virtual Power Lunch and I’d love to have you there. I’m extending an invitation to those that have subscribed and you can expect to receive an invitation over the coming months. However, if you’d like to get in touch sooner, please feel free to email me at naomi@naomi-white.com.
• During COVID-19, I’ve started a YouTube video series called ‘Corona-cation’, interviewing women from around the globe on their experiences and perspectives during this time. You can view the series here. If you would like to be interviewed as part of this series, please email me on naomi@naomi-white.com.
• You can also get mentored by me. My speciality is leadership (personal, team and business):

1. Personal leadership and team leadership
2. Leading and influencing change
3. Transforming yourself and stepping into your power
4. Leading transformation for your team and business (which starts with yourself)

• During COVID, I’m offering virtual mentoring packages on a limited basis and if you would like more information, feel free to email me on naomi@naomi-white.com. I send out regular thought leadership articles to my community. You can see my bank of existing articles here. I’ve love to hear your thoughts about them when I publish them. Let’s have a conversation!