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It’s likely that, since the pandemic spread across the world in March of this year, causing lockdowns, unpresented illness and necessitating the need for a massive shake-up for the world of work, leaders have faced their hardest challenges whilst trying to lead their people through uncertain times.
Nothing could have presented a greater test of leadership credentials; it was impossible to predict the advent of COVID-19, nor how the virus was going to change Government legislation or public behaviour one day to the next, making the leadership position the hardest role, with no clear roadmap to follow or forge.
According to the latest research from LinkedIn, which surveyed more than 1000 C-suite executives, more than two-thirds (69%) say that leading their organisations through COVID-19 has been the most challenging experience of their career, with many having to make tough decisions regarding the future of their business and workforce. Nearly a third (32%) have made employees redundant, 42% asked workers to take a pay cut, and in the case of the UK, 62% of leaders put staff on furlough.
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One of the biggest challenges the majority (72%) of leaders have struggled with during this time is not having all the answers, with over half (52%) at times doubting their ability to lead. A third of leaders say they have had to rely on gut instinct to make decisions, and three-quarters have put on a positive face even though they do not feel optimistic about business performance. More than half (58%) have also found leading virtually challenging.
