Leadership in the New Normal
Leonora Z. Agustin
Brian Tracy said “The true test of leadership is how well you function in a crisis”. Presently, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused crisis to all of us. Everyone encounters different challenges most especially leaders of various organizations. In this trying time, leaders’ performance and capability are really tested just like what Tracy said.
Leaders have great responsibilities. Every member of the organization expects so much from their leaders. Thus, leaders must develop excellent leadership skills especially with the pandemic that we experience which forces us to adapt the difficult and unexpected changes of the new normal. Members of each organization rely on their leaders, hoping that the crisis will not greatly affect them. The leaders’ adaptive capacity is crucial during this new normal where everyone is trying to adjust and cope with the present situation. They must be the first to embrace the changes, make plan for the organization and focus on the welfare of their constituents or subordinates. They must serve as the role models and inspiration to their members.
The COVID-19 pandemic, has dramatically altered the landscape of our educational system. Leaders in the Department of Education continuously work together to pursue the delivery of education despite the pandemic. They strategically planned well their course of action to ensure the provision of quality education among learners. One of which is the employment of various learning modalities as the alternative for the face to face class. To do this, meetings, conferences, webinars, briefings and the like were conducted by the leaders of the department to ensure the readiness of the school, teachers, learners and parents for the opening of school year. Likewise, the implementation of different learning modalities based on the Learner’s Enrollment Survey Form of every school were simulated. One example is the Distance Learning in which the learners will be provided with Self-Learning Modules and Activity Sheets prepared by the teachers.
Until now, the Central, Regional and Division Offices keep on preparing for the opening of classes on October 5, 2020. They see to it that everything will be in order as the classes begin for the school year 2020-2021.
--oOo-
The author is Head Teacher V at Angeles City National High School