COVID-19: Extraordinary Crisis Leadership Required

Most crises unfold in unique ways, but over a more or less predictable period of time. Once the peak of a crisis passes, the end is somewhere in sight and a semblance of “normal” or “near normal” returns. The COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented because the end is not yet visible and may not be for some time. 

Much has been written about how crises should be managed. COVID-19, however, is unarguably an extraordinary crisis in terms of velocity, ubiquity, and uncertainty. It continues to baffle, and in many instances overwhelm, medical, government, and business leaders. No experiences, practices, or learnings in recent memory fully apply to framing it—not SARS, not the global financial crisis, not the Asian financial crisis. Leaders will have to go well beyond conventional approaches to successfully navigate through it.