By Franklyn Michael, Programme Specialist at CARICAD T he unfolding COVID-19 crisis continues to present many challenges for public sector leaders. It also presents an opportunity for those leaders to embrace good practice frameworks. One such framework is that developed by CARICAD for Management in Crises. It is shown below. The framework suggests that Preparation before a crisis, is as important as Performance, during the crisis and Transformation, after the crisis. CARICAD developed the framework by focusing on what Leaders/Managers should Be, Know, Have and Do for the three phases; Prepare, Perform and Transform. In that regard, because we are still in the unfolding COVID-19 crisis, the focus of this article will be on leading/managing during the crisis. It is important to clarify a few concepts at the outset: CRISIS: is a threatening condition that requires urgent action to avoid further deterioration. Crises can be: Sudden or gradual impact, wide-spread or localised, natural or human-caused but always comprise danger and risk and there is a need for quick, decisive action to prevent deterioration of the situation. TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP: A style of leadership where the leader collaborates with followers (employees) to identify the needed change, creates a vision to guide the change; through inspiration, and executing the change in tandem with committed members of the group. Continues on next page 4
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