Leading remotely during lockdown: Eight lessons we can learn from the army

‘Leadership is a contact sport’ observed Marshall Goldsmith, one of the world’s leading coaches. But how does one lead under circumstances when physical contact is not possible. Remote leadership is an occupational reality for military leaders. Especially during border deployments when a battalion of 800 troops is stretched over tens of kilometres, and commanding officers are unable to meet their forces for months on end.

While none of the leadership behaviours mentioned below are applicable only for a lockdown scenario; they are a good framework in the current context.

Firstly, get to know your troops intimately. In the armed forces