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Directors Need to Change Leadership Style During COVID

Directors Need to Change Leadership Style During COVID

Directors Need to Change Leadership Style During COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown us all for a loop, and we are all doing our best to navigate the ever-changing landscape of early childhood education in a Reform Jewish setting. 

As a Director, you continue to adapt and make changes to overcome the challenges COVID has created.  Yet, there may be one way you have not adapted, but should—your leadership style.

With so many pieces to the puzzle and so much to do, taking the time to adapt your leadership style may have gone by the wayside.

I recently read an article in the Harvard Business Review on Adaptive Leadership. It focused on the  5 Principals to Guide Adaptive Leadership.

The article states that “ Responding to the crisis requires adaptive leadership, which involves what we refer to as the 4 A’s:

  • Anticipation of likely future needs, trends and options.
  • Articulation of these needs to build collective understanding and support for action.
  • Adaptation so that there is continuous learning and the adjustment of responses as necessary.
  • Accountability, including maximum transparency in decision making processes and openness to challenges and feedback.”

 

First, you and your staff must come together in ANTICIPATION and plan for the future. Together you ARTICULATE to families the decisions, methods, and protocols put in place. As the pandemic changes, ADAPT together as a team to make the most informed decisions possible. Lastly, to have buy-in and understanding from families, be ACCOUNTABLE and accessible to them and each other.


 November 18, 2020