Leading in the Covid-19 Crisis

Your resource portal for managing and leading your team through the Coronavirus crisis

The Covid-19 crisis is the ultimate test of management and leadership. In this extraordinarily stressful time, the value of great management and leadership is being demonstrated every day.

On this go-to portal, you’ll find the latest insights from CMI, alongside easy-to-find information to help you to manage yourself and your teams through uncertainty.

For our members, ManagementDirect is rich in content with tools, guidance and checklists to support workplace activity. Our Career Development Hub includes some great tools to boost your professional capabilities.

End Point Assessment partners will also find relative information on our EPA web page and in the CMI Partner Portal.

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Upcoming Events

Take a look and register for our upcoming events, whether you're looking to brush up on your digital skills or find out more about what CMI can offer.
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Knowledge Bank

CMI's management and leadership knowledge bank provides information and guidance for a range of topics.

The Better Managers Manual

Managing the New Normal

The #BetterManagers Manual offers a practical guide to navigating the impacts of Covid-19 for managers and leaders.

To support managers and leaders as they navigate this crisis - both for themselves and for those they manage - we have assembled a set of tried-and-tested tools and resources brought together through five key themes: flexible working; crisis management; mental health and wellbeing; the new employment landscape; and good governance.

Download the manual

CMI Better Managers Briefing

Each week our CEO, Ann Francke OBE, will be delivering a CMI #BetterManagers Briefing webinar to support the CMI family and wider community. These will be an opportunity to share challenges and advice as we embark on this challenging journey together. View the current and past videos here.

Get involved on social media using #BetterManagers

Watch previous briefings

Tools, templates and top tips

We know that the current situation will bring new challenges to everyone, which is why we are highlighting the positive steps that we can all take to navigate and adapt through these changes. Take a look at the resources.

We want to ensure that you have the information you need to manage your teams and organisation during these challenging times, let us know.

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Flexibility

Organisations have accepted the principle of flexible working for some time, but the Covid-19 crisis has accelerated its adoption and necessity for many. This rapid take-up has been an intensive stress-test for management practices that will needed if flexible working becomes more normalised post Coronavirus. But how can you implement flexible working for your team and work as effectively as you can by yourself?

How can business lead the way in supporting mid-life women?

Women in mid-life are managing work, menopause and caring responsibilities. Employers need to step up to meet their needs in
[Blog] []

Thank God it’s Thursday! Busting the myths about the four-day week

As managers navigate returning to work post-Covid, we bust five myths about the four-day week
[Article] [Flexibility]

Deep Dive: The hidden problems of flexible work – and how to avoid them post-Covid

With the vaccination program steadily expanding and the end of lockdown on the horizon we ask: what’s next?
[Article] [Crisis Management]

Deep dive: Seven rules for ‘hybrid’ remote and office working

When we do finally return to workplaces and offices, managers and leaders should learn these effective lessons
[Article] []
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Crisis Management

While the Coronavirus pandemic is an unusual crisis with distinct characteristics, there are proven crisis management techniques that, if followed, will enable managers to step-up, support their organisation and team, and turn the crisis into a development opportunity to be ready and better equipped for the future.

‘This is not a drill’: a real-life crisis leadership story

One engine fails. Your wing starts melting. What are your options?
[Article] []

The next phase of the new normal: balancing FOMO and FOTO

HItachi’s Stephen Pierce shares the company’s approach to developing a hybrid working model in April. He explains the lessons
[Article] [Crisis Management]

Updates from the CMI Sri Lanka Board

CMI events, new management ideas and how you can master digital transformation – read the updates from CMI Sri Lanka here
[Blog] []

How to get your people back to the workplace

Re-onboarding will be stressful. The trick will be to treat returners as new starters
[Article] []
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Mental Health & Wellbeing

Managers must quickly learn - and be trained in - a new set of management skills around empathy and emotional intelligence alongside ensuring that they are getting the support they need to build their own resilience.

Burnt out? Here’s how to feel better

It’s okay not to feel okay. These tips and techniques really could help to address work stress and beat burn out
[Blog] []

How can business lead the way in supporting mid-life women?

Women in mid-life are managing work, menopause and caring responsibilities. Employers need to step up to meet their needs in
[Blog] []

How to sharpen your mind and clear brain fog

‘Brain fog’ can hamper our ability to think, perform and communicate – here’s how to overcome it
[Article] []

Are digital tools the answer to employees’ mental health issues?

Nothing beats face-to-face conversations but, with careful management, digital wellbeing solutions can play a unique part
[Article] []
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The New Employment Landscape

Many people will find their working and professional circumstances altered, honest and sometimes difficult conversations will need to take place. Managers need to ensure they know how to conduct them and feel supported in doing so.

Squiggly careers and self-coaching: embracing nonlinear careers

So, we embraced remote working; we’re warming up to hybrid working; but what about squiggly working?
[Article] [Employment Landscape]

Youth Skills Day: the lessons I learned from my first role

Leaders from various sectors share the lessons they learned early in their career, in honour of World Youth Skills Day
[Advice] []

“Some of my expectations were spot on and others were polar opposite”

We spend a day in the life of a corporate private investigator and look at the skills needed to serve both teams and clients
[Blog] []

The talent-retaining role you need in your organisation

Here’s why NOT having a head of employee experience is costing your business more than just employee turnover…
[Blog] []
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The New Good Governance

The first priority for leaders and managers during a crisis is for their organisations to survive. However, looking longer term, this crisis may change forever what is expected of them and teams have of their bosses. Poor decision making during this period will not be quickly forgotten. All of us need to consider whether our skills and behaviours will equip us for ‘the new normal’.

Do you know your duty of care responsibilities?

Managers have duty of care responsibilities to their team members. Here’s a helpful briefing from a CMI Fellow
[Article] []

There are nine types of leader, which one are you?

A top financial journalists has identified nine different leadership styles – plus one trait that all leaders need
[Article] []

Do I inspire my colleagues? 20 questions to ask yourself

Is your management and leadership inspiring and bringing out the best in your team during the pandemic? Time to find out…
[Blog] [Governance]

Time to become an activist-manager…?

In the post-Covid era, managers must speak truth to power and stand up for those disadvantaged by old-school practices
[Blog] []
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Get involved and join the CMI Community

Now, more than ever, we need managers and leaders to lead by example, share your tips and advice with our online community using #BetterManagers on social media.

Not yet part of CMI's Community as a Friend, Subscriber or Member? Take a look at the different ways to get involved and join the Community today.

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