When I find myself mentioning something several times during the week, I mentally tag it as a theme in my conversations. It’s been a combination of decision-making, compassion and the importance of how people feel. A number, but not all, of these conversations have been in connection with COVID-19. Specifically, the planning currently going on in New Zealand for the expected surge and the impact of that from Omicron.

Decision-making is part of the job when you are leading. Sometimes there isn't a 'right' decision, and you have to make one anyway. You will get some decisions wrong, or some won't plan out how you hoped. Where you can influence and be intentional, is how people feel during that process. How you've communicated it, how you've listened and how they have felt part of the process, will be the thing that is remembered. How people feel matters.

In New Zealand, we are fortunate to be able to learn from and listen to those in other countries who have been working through this for some time. I've come across some useful places to find resources, ideas, support and help for you whatever the role you have right now.

If how people feel is what will have the lasting impression, that should be forefront of our minds as we step into increasingly stressful and difficult conversations and decisions.

This article from the Centre for Creative Leadership, looks at three factors that help leaders cope with pandemic stress. This is about how you lead yourself first in order to lead others. A step that is crucial if you are to be able to manage and improve how others feel at work. Being in a good place yourself puts you in the best place for making those decisions and supporting those around you. The three specific areas it looks at are : resilience, gratitude and a tolerance for ambiguity,

With you in a good space, then you are more able to step into the space of compassionate leadership…..

In this 3-minute read from the King’s Fund, Michael West magically pulls together teamwork, psychological safety and compassionate leadership. There was so much gold in the short article, the best way to give you a flavour is this quote - "Compassionate leadership in practice involves attending to, understanding, empathising with and helping those we lead. Attending means being present with, and attending to, those we lead - ‘listening with fascination’."

3 minutes worth spending.