Managing well for combatting COVID-19

By Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri

COVID-19 is not going to be a thing of the past. At least this statement will be valid for a considerable period of time. There has been verbal diarrhoea from many politicians with pointing fingers at one another. The dire need for managerial leadership in all fronts is more acute than any other time. 

“There are no good or bad institutions; rich or poor institutions; new or old institutions; only well-managed or ill-managed institutions,” said Peter Drucker, a veteran management thinker. What he stated makes profound sense not only for institutions but for nations as well. In sharing the essence, let me propose three Hs, viz, Holistic, Humble and Humane.

Holistic: The managerial leaders should see the big picture in seeing the whole than just the parts. It reminds me of the famous poem by John Godfrey Saxe who talks of “six blind men and an elephant”. COVID-19 is an invitation to see the big picture in the socio-economic arena rather than overly worrying on one’s own businesses. It is also an invitation to identify the associated complexities in a comprehensive manner. 

Humble: The “locking down” experience was an invitation for us to be “looking up” in understanding the simple things where true happiness lies. It was also an awakening for us to be humble in seeing the reality of life in a mature manner. As Jim Collins highlights in his famous “good to great” hierarchy, level five leadership, which is great leadership in action, require professional will and personal humility. Great leaders do not go on others shoulders but carry others on their shoulders. That service orientation being a true servant leader is the basis for true humbleness. 

Humane: One good result COVID19 brought about in the business circles is the challenge for the leaders to be humane. It has been a painful realisation of the value of humans and to achieve humane results. Despite the harsh treatment of some naïve administrators, most of the sensible leaders have realised the need to become humane. Managerial leadership call for empathy towards people and effectiveness towards performance in a balanced manner. It is a case of practicing what you preach by way of recognising people as your most valuable asset and collaborating with them in bouncing back with better business results.

It has been echoed in in many platforms the need to have right person handling the right job. Competencies should be more important than connections. Have we tapped the right talent in assigning crucial tasks? The ample presence of efficient managers and effective leaders at all fronts is the luxury that we do not have. Hence the solution is to foster managerial leadership in a strategic and comprehensive manner with holistic, humble and humane aspects. We need managerial leaders who genuinely serve and not malicious laggards who grumpily survive. 

[The writer is Vice President, CMI (UK) Sri Lanka Chapter.]