A lot of you are doing it already and a lot of you know... you're going to have to do it all again.
This time we might be more prepared and we should be better organised but it isn’t going to make it any easier.
The modern day Sisyphus’ stone has a new name. It’s Covid-19. As the nation closes down, the NHS has to open up its emergency beds and everyone gets ready to push Covid back up the hill.
For the last time, or for this time? We know the answer.
It’s not just the clocks that have gone back this weekend. The nation has gone backwards. Not just an hour. More like six months.
Last time, we knew we were entering the unknown. We knew we had to stick together, we knew we had to depend on each other, like never before.
We knew we had to look after each other. It was the unknown that brought out the unbelievable.
There were a lot of comparisons with history. The way in which small companies made masks and PPE, had resonances with the small ships of Dunkirk. The great battles of history were the metaphors. But, all that leaves a lingering question…
Could Churchill have pulled off a second Dunkirk? Could Monty have done the Desert Campaign twice? Could any of the great leaders in history have galvanised, re-energised, re-motivated their troops and their teams to do it all again?
The NHS is being asked to ‘do-Covid-two’… and it's a big ask.
Motivation often arises out of spontaneity. We say;
‘the moment maketh the woman
and the man’
People do great things when big challenges come knocking at their door.
Getting people ready to do the undoable, twice. Preparing people to go back, re-live the excruciations of the first time. Taking people to a second-level of effort means leaders must move to a second-level of leadership.
We know the rules;
Leaders are visible, have a vision and share it often
Leaders create the time and space for good people to do great things
Leaders always recruit people who are better than them
But this time there is more;
Leaders listen,
leaders ask, how
leaders say… show me.
Leaders must want to know what worked and why. They must find out, what did we change and will it work again.
Leaders will want to see what they have to do to make it all work for the second time.
True leaders will know that letting go and creating space is their biggest task. Second only to knowing there’s a difference between giving up and knowing when people have had enough.
Real leaders don’t use PowerPoint, they use stories, experience and quite words.
This time, because we know what we asked for last time, asking again is asking a lot.
Because it is different this time leaders have a lot to forget;
Forget they have a desk, leave the day-to-day running to the chief operations officer and be super-visible. If you can't do that, change the COO.
Forget about asking people to do things, ask how you can help them do things.
Forget your watch, the frontline does 12 hour shifts and more.
Forget missions and visions. Focus on a sense of pride, belonging to a great team and the thrill of achievement… like the number of people who have gone home, safely.
Forget about saying, last time we did this and we will do it again. Start saying, last time we did this, do we want to do it again.
Forget saying well done. This time it's not enough. This time, celebrate even the smallest achievement, like crazy. There are backs that need patting. Get on a mission to find them.
Forget talking about being the best. Start talking about the organisation becoming 'the place we all want it to be'.
This time it’s about telling the stories of last time.
The small and simple acts of kindness, reminding the organisation how many times the public said ‘thank you’. This time there is a narrative and it says; this is what was achieved, how can we do it better this time.
Leaders understand, it is their job to look after the people, looking after the people.
This is what I'm hearing; if you know different tell me, in confidence, here
________
>> I'm hearing - No18 is reported as saying there might be a staff vaccine before Xmas. What he actually said, when boxed into a corner by an over intrusive interviewer, was he wouldn't rule it out. I think I would...
>> I'm hearing - The BMA’s GP Committee has met with Jo Churchill and Simon Stevens over NHS England’s claim that GP practices are not open to patients. Why are they still making a meal of this? I don't think NHSE said any such thing?
