Global Health Asia-Pacific September 2020 September 2020 | Page 58

Column
How to lead during a crisis
Dr Timothy Low explains what makes a good leader
With this new
pandemic that
is new to all, we
need to have the
right attitude,
to brainstorm,
to look at every
angle, and listen
to everyone’s
point of view
in order to stay
united to fight
the virus.
All of us are equal. We’re as good as the
weakest link. We do need one another to be
successful. No one is greater than the other.
With this new pandemic that is new to all, we need to
have the right attitude, to brainstorm, to look at every
angle, and listen to everyone’s point of view in order
to stay united to fight the virus. �veryone in the world
plays an important role.
For example:
a. The management steps forward to be on the
ground with the staff, to address the situation
together, by listening to the staff, doing their best to
protect every one of them to ensure they’re all fully
protected from the virus, and to provide the moral
support and encouragement to the fatigued staff.
b. Healthcare personnel, like the doctors, volunteer
themselves to take turns to work round the clock,
even on weekends and public holidays, while
nurses work 12-hour shifts, not removing their
personal protection equipment, not eating and
resting, but just doing their utmost best to nurse
the COVID-19 patients.
c. The cleaners ensure the environment is disinfected
and dispose of all the trash with care� the o�ce
staff step forward to help take temperature, and the
security personnel ensure all areas are secured and
safe. �veryone is sacrificing themselves, working
endlessly and tirelessly for the patients and their
loved ones.
There are two things we need to do:
I. One is to practice personal hygiene constantly,
like hand washing, social distancing, and wearing
masks under the current situation.
II. Secondly, practice empathy in our everyday life.
�veryone has a different role to play, and together
we will be united as the �ower of O��. Hence, we
need to put ourselves in another person’s shoes,
to truly see the world through everyone’s eyes in a
given context or situation.
It’s human nature to assume that others will think
and feel the same as us in particular situations, but
of course, this isn’t always the case. The first step in
empathising with others is to suspend our own view
of the world around us in order to truly see it through
other’s eyes.
We need to spend time getting to know and
understanding one’s needs, wants, and why people
are doing what they’re doing. This means observing
and engaging with people in order to understand them
on a psychological and emotional level.
We need to listen to what everyone is saying,
thinking, doing, and feeling. We can use the What-
How-Why framework.
56 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific.com