6 Ways to Build Leadership Skills to Emerge from COVID-19 Stronger Than Ever

April 28, 2020

Obviously, times are tough for the events industry right now. It’s something we’re all experiencing, feeling and grappling with as we wake up each morning. So many article direct us all to keep the faith or put on a happy face, but there are some days when we just don’t feel capable of doing that — and that’s OK. One thing you can focus on during this time, however, is working on your own leadership qualities that will help you and your teams emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger than before. Angela Raub, CEO of Leadercast, shares her insights on not only surviving this crisis, but also preparing to thrive on its outset. Here’s how.

Don’t fear being introspective.

Sitting in silence is powerful. “I think the ability to take a pause and take time to reflect is extremely important for us to come out of this positively, not just from a perspective as a leader, but as a way for us to better our world,” says Raub. The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the few occurrences in the world over the last century that truly includes all of us. Through taking what she calls an “adult time out,” you can take a look at where you are personally, and where this crisis has made you uncomfortable — in good and bad ways.

Practice gratitude.

Raub’s philosophy is “hands up and out,” focusing on being grateful for your experiences in the landscape of your life and recognizing what positive things have come from this situation. For example, she says her mailman, Lee, recently shared with her that in his 30 years of being a postal worker, he wants to rush home even more on Saturdays now to be with his family, because of the joy in his heart from seeing other families playing together in their yards. “Through this disruption, he’s seeing something good,” says Raub. “He’s seen the world around him change for the better.”

Consider that pivot doesn’t always mean forward.

To pivot is to move either forward or back — but, are we a failure if we pivot back? Raub says not necessarily, as innovating back toward old habits, which may have been forgotten amidst all the busyness of our lives, can be a positive move. “Through the compression of many organizations, we’re going to realize that some lines of business or ways we organized weren’t as effective as we thought,” she explains. This is why we may see some innovating not only with new ideas, but pivoting back to ideas that were tried and true for us.

Consider the premise of adult learning, for example: For it to be effective, you must offer elongated learning opportunities throughout the year with different junctures of engagement, says Raub. When Leadercast took its events virtual to accomplish this in the past, they found participants were not as engaged, so they focused on building out smaller, in-person gatherings. Raub thinks this move toward condensed events with a digital component will be a strategy we’ll see more of going forward; “I don’t think we’ll have gatherings of thousands of people in 2020,” she adds.

Listen more than you speak.

We’re all tied up in Zoom meetings throughout our days. The key to strong leadership during these times is to listen more than you speak. “When you’re on Zoom, mute and watch a lot more, and make sure you’re staying in tune and getting to know people better,” says Raub. Watch their physical being, their facial expressions and body language; you’ll be able to see if they need extra reaching out, she adds. Have the courage to let another person take the helm of calls, too. This is a tactic called “leading out,” Raub says, and she does this by calling members of her team prior to a call and asking them to be the leader. “We’re developing our future leaders by having them feel more engaged, and I can only get better at Zoom if I let people from my team interact.”

Have great empathy.

Leaders of any size of organization must increase their empathy to help curtail the heightened anxiety of their employees, says Raub. For example, some of your employees who’ve lost childcare arrangements might be going back to ground zero of establishing their new normal. That’s why leaders will need to continue being flexible for a while going forward until people get their feet back under them again.

Be vulnerable.

As the world learned from Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson’s heartfelt video message to his employees, it’s OK to show your vulnerability as a leader. “[He was] a true example of being vulnerable yet empathetic; regardless of his own physical challenges, he wanted to meet people where they were at,” Raub says. She’s shown her emotional side to her team throughout this crisis, too, having times where she’s had to put her head down or become choked up during Zoom meetings. “The one thing I ask my team all the time is, ‘Are you OK?’” she says. “Even if a leader can’t answer the question of whether they’ll have a job tomorrow, your people matter in the moment, all the time.”

 

In what ways are you developing your own leadership skills during this crisis? Share with us in the comments.

 

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact