“In times of crisis, people crave leadership,” she said. “They want to follow people they believe in.”
Redmond spoke with us virtually at our June C-Suite Perspectives.
“What do good leaders do when faced with this type of challenge,” she asked. “Our leadership perspectives come from our individual perspectives.”
Redmond said that, during these challenging times, it is more reason for leaders to think about their purpose and mission.
“It begins with courage,” she added. “It takes great courage to stay the course, in particular when you can’t see what lies ahead. It takes courage to change course. It takes courage to make changes. It takes courage to admit that you don’t have all the answers.”
Optimism also is key, Redmond said.
“I am the eternal optimist,” she said. “People need encouragement. I’m not sure if we’ve ever needed encouragement more than we need today.”
But, even during the pandemic, Redmond said there is opportunity.
“This pandemic has given us the opportunity to learn a lot about ourselves and each other,” she said.
“What I’ve learned the most is that we need each other,” said Redmond. “People need the opportunity to be connected. I’m excited about the things that we’ve learned.”
She said the current situation also brings an opportunity for introspection.
“We are in a social, cultural, and spiritual pandemic,” said Redmond. “I want to ask each person to consider a time of real reflection about your individual perspectives. Go back and think about where you started, how your life experiences have brought you here.”
We want to thank Redmond for her perspectives and insights into leadership. We also want to thank our C-Suite Perspectives sponsors for their continued support and engagement. Their partnership with us makes this series possible.
Our next C-Suite Perspectives will take place on Aug. 14. Please check back later on our website for more information about the speaker for our August C-Suite Perspectives.