Many entrepreneurs, content creators, and subject matter experts want to be seen as leaders in their niches, industries, even the world, and much of the work they do on a daily basis is aimed at elevating their status as leaders.
They work incredibly hard to stand out among a sea of similar businesses, creators and experts, going a little bit further, giving a little bit more of themselves, producing content that’s just a little better than everything else out there.
It’s a long, slow race to the top that takes patience, persistence and generosity.
Faced with a crisis, however, true leaders can accelerate that process.
Not by taking advantage of panic and fear, not by profiteering or scamming, but by doubling down on the same generosity they were already practicing and adapting it to the current circumstances.
If you’re looking to serve and lead your audience in a time of crisis, don’t overthink it.
Too many would-be leaders freeze, unable to see what they have to offer and how they can help.
Give What You Can
If you have content, products or expertise that are applicable, share them in the way that makes the most sense. Be generous with your knowledge and if you can afford to, your resources.
If you don’t have applicable content but you have an audience, organize them.
In a crisis, people are bombarded with information from every side, much of it contradictory. Do your research and distill what’s relevant to your audience and present it in a rational, cohesive manner, free of hype, panic, and fear.
You know your audience better than anyone else and are uniquely positioned to give them news in the most actionable way possible. While they can get the major news anywhere, your analysis, as one of them matters.
Foster Community
Aside from information distribution and analysis, focus on organizing and building a community.
Focus on hope, reason, and generosity to build a space that is a reprieve from the craziness in the rest of the world.
Don’t ignore the crisis, talk about it openly but with a focus on what you can each be doing to work through it, staying sane and productive along the way.
Empower people to help each other. Consider starting an offer and needs market, where members of your community can share both needs that need assistance with, and offers that they’re in a position to provide.
Empowering and facilitating connection is one of the most underrated skills of a leader, and times of crisis are the perfect time to apply it.
Ask
Lastly, if you have a community, no matter how small and aren’t sure what you can do to help, just ask.
Acknowledge that this is a tough time for everyone and that you don’t know if you’ll be able to help but ask anyway.
More often than not you’ll find that people have problems you didn’t even think of, but which you are in a position to help solve, even if that means referring them to another resource or person who can help directly.
Showing up with generosity, with an attitude to serve, and helping people navigate a difficult time, is one of the surest ways to establish yourself as a leader, a status that will last long after the crisis has passed.
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