Advice for business leaders on steering their ships through the Covid-19 storm

Alwyn Rossouw, CEO of The Marathon Group

The increase in Covid-19 infections and the move to adjusted level four of the national lockdown this week, will not only have an impact on the country’s economy but also affect the performance and productivity of employees.

This is the view of Alwyn Rossouw, CEO of The Marathon Group - a management consultancy and financial services company, who says that while the third wave of the pandemic is a setback for many businesses who are already struggling in the toughened economy, it will be imperative that leaders assist their employees with the resources and support to remain productive, motivated and equipped to navigate the coming weeks.

“This goes beyond just robust systems and structures. Often companies forget about one of the most important parts - the human element,” Rossouw explains.

“The move back to remote working has added significant strain on many. People are emotionally exhausted, on edge and having to take on several new responsibilities during this time. Business leaders need to take critical steps to ensure that their employees are not only safe but also supported during this time,” he adds.

“Being an effective leader ultimately helps to build clarity, alignment and trust in businesses in South Africa,” says Rossouw.

The pandemic is playing out against a backdrop of extreme economic, political, social, and psychological instability.

For leaders, to help employees navigate the turbulence, Rossouw says that the Stockdale Paradox provides a good foundation of the approach that they should have during Level 4 of the pandemic.

In principle, this requires people to retain the faith that they will prevail and overcome in the end, regardless of the difficulties, all while confronting the brutal facts of the current reality whatever they might be.

Using these guiding principles, the Stockdale Paradox can help managers to assess the current Covid-19 situation and plan accordingly.

In doing so, this will help them tackle the challenges that they are facing, all while assuring their teams that they will be able to eventually overcome these difficulties,” adds Rossouw.