COVID has taught us it’s time to change the way we lead

Communications teams have been at the heart of the pandemic since day one.

For most, it has been the most challenging, exhausting and emotional time of their lives.  For many, it was the moment when execs turned and listened to them, center stage, with greater respect than ever before.

As the vaccines kick in and restrictions ease, now is the time to reflect on what you’ve all been through. What have you learned from the last 15 months? What has it told you about the best ways to lead?  How does it help you meet the challenge of what is next?

There have been plenty of practical takeaways from communicating in a crisis. Which channels were most effective? Which messages resonated amid the noise of COVID-19 communication? Which did not? How did you sustain your teams through grueling periods of uncertainty, chaos and fear?

It’s crucial to review the lessons learned over the past year, but you must also put plans into action for a profoundly changed business landscape.

Fighting for a place at the decision-making table

Communications leaders have often had to fight for their place at the top table. At this moment in history, they are at the heart of triage – life support machines to business survival.  In many cases, communicators were literally the difference between life and death.