With the second quarter of 2021 underway and good economic indicators on the horizon, many of us are optimistic that enterprises of all kinds will flourish as the gravest dangers of the pandemic recede.
What does this time of transition mean for leadership? We won't be restricted like we've been since COVID-19 took us hostage, but we won't be living in a world quite like the pre-pandemic one either. Should we take a new tack?
According to leadership development expert Randy Goruk, leadership right now isn't much different than it is during any other time, good or bad. The skills and qualities that see us through routine challenges, as well as help us address events that take us by surprise, are exactly what we need to get us through. This notion is reassuring.
In March 2020, Goruk listed five things an effective leader must be able to do:
"It will be easier to make the correct decision if you stay grounded by your values, your mission, and your vision for the future," Goruk added. "You must embrace accountability—don't wait for someone else to take action. You are the leader."
Goruk's clarity reminds me of comments colleagues in the payments industry made when discussing how they and their companies pivoted to meet the needs of customers when the pandemic took hold. Members of The Green Sheet Advisory Board, for example, gave us a glimpse of leadership in action when they shared how they dealt with the crisis in our Dec. 14 and 28, 2020, and Jan. 11, 2021, issues.
I have full confidence we will all continue to adapt as conditions change, doing what is necessary to facilitate commerce and widen access to ever more innovative and inclusive forms of payment acceptance and business services.
In a sense, we are all beginning anew, learning from what worked well in the prior year and creating new models of work going forward. Here are some things to keep in mind during this hopeful time of opening up:
As some people return to the office or to the field, others work from home permanently, and some adopt a combination of in-person and remote work, be mindful that people often need reassurance during transition—even during times of positive change. Go out of your way to check in with folks and let them know how to get support as we all participate in creating our new normal. 
The Green Sheet Inc. is now a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals. Click here for more information.
Notice to readers: These are archived articles. Contact names or information may be out of date. We regret any inconvenience.
Prev Next
