Ashley Semmens: «Tough Times Call for Better Leadership»: Many business leaders struggle to cope with adversity. That poses tremendous challenges in the current environment, Ashley Semmens writes in an essay on finews.first. ashleysemmens
This article has been published on finews.first, a forum for authors specializing in economic and financial topics.
That is a dangerous position for any business to be in, particularly now. The pandemic continues to be an issue in significant parts of Asia. The Ukraine War, high inflation, market volatility and the manifold supply chain and energy industry dislocations call for better and more resilient leaders – and sound business responses. Being able to lead through the unparalleled challenges we are currently seeing is essential for success.
It also follows many tenets of great business builders. No matter how complex or threatening the environment – success lies in focused, unrelenting, and agile problem-solving. Mindset matters. Leaders need to give teams a realistic take on the current echo chamber of negative news while keeping them concentrated on the required priorities and direction. They need to be fully cognizant of where each team’s deficits lie while focusing on «non-performers» immediately – and respectfully. Maintaining adequate diversity within teams is also important as a variety of backgrounds helps them to leverage a wider base of experience, enhancing overall resilience.
Ultimately, it does not matter whether you lead a financial, technology, or fintech business. What is clear is that all leaders will need to have a sharper focus on people and change. It will no longer be about who is best, or who has been around the longest, but who is best able to adapt.