Purpose , people , planet
LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY
Purpose , people , planet
Satish Shankar , Regional Managing
Partner of Bain & Company for Asia- Pacific , shares with Business Chief three positive changes that he feels the COVID-19 crisis has brought about and urges business leaders to consider carefully how they lead the recovery in a post-pandemic world . agile , with better prioritisation of project objectives and scope . Leaders were also reported as being more willing to take bold risks , and more tolerant of failures . Leaders should reflect on what enable this agile approach and embed that more deeply into their BAU organisation .
1 . Strong sense of corporate purpose COVID-19 confirmed what years of Bain & Company research has told us – that a strong sense of corporate purpose is critical to a company ’ s ability to navigate change . Purpose is the anchor that provides context and focus , and the glue that holds the organisation together through flux . Being able to define , articulate and renew that purpose was a differentiator through the crisis and will continue to be critical in the leadership toolkit going forward .
3 . A focus on ESG Finally , COVID-19 has provided tailwinds to the sustainability / ESG agenda in many companies , creating more urgency around employee wellness , sustainable supply chains and the general need to identify and navigate environmental risks . Leaders should seize the moment to propel their sustainability agendas forward coming out of the crisis . 2 . Much greater agility In a Bain study conducted at the height of the crisis last year , 50 % of respondents said their corporate teams had become more
Satish Shankar , Regional Managing Partner of Bain & Company for Asia-Pacific
60 June 2021