As I was reflecting on how to lead in these challenging times impacted by Covid-19, I remembered scenes from the US television show M*A*S*H and I wondered if this storyline demonstrates qualities which might be useful for leaders to inspire vision for team building.

To recap or introduce the story line of M*A*S*H for this blog, the setting is a mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) team operating not far from the front lines of the Korean War. The show portrayed the human struggle of a small army surgical team from different backgrounds dealing with the senseless pain and tragedy of war, while trying to stay functional and sane. Brilliantly mixing in comedy to soften the violence they were living in, they showed their humanity, heroics and dysfunction all at the same time. This was, and still is, one of my favourite television shows of all time. Starting in 1973, it aired for over ten years with the final episode entitled ‘Goodbye, Farewell and Amen’ watched by over 105 million viewers, a final episode viewing record that still stands today.

The thing that was so gripping about this final episode was that as much as we had longed for the war to end and for the characters to be relieved of their suffering, we were sad to see the show end because we admired how close they had become with each other. Isolated with constant struggles on every side, they portrayed what ordinary people could do even in the toughest of circumstances imaginable. As much as they wanted to leave the awful place they had been, they didn’t want to part from each other because it had equally become a place of riches.

As I think about what some families, teams, groups and communities are going through at this time with Covid, I wonder if we could be inspired and get a leadership vision from the story of M*A*S*H? Here are a few leadership focal points from the show to consider:

We can face the tragedy around us together…

We are living with unresolved conflict around the virus, troublesome societal issues, sickness and in some cases death. Being honest about that and facing it, creating a different space as best as we can as a team is part of our daily struggle. And yes, sometimes part of that conflict, pressure and sorrow comes into our team. That’s the reality of where and when we live. The M*A*S*H team had a sense of community with all sorts of craziness around them and we can as well.

We can rise above the circumstances and innovate…

Restrictions are making old ways of working difficult. Rather than putting on a brave face and spinning the story, we can explore new ways to get the same things done and maybe even more. Struggle like this is an opportunity to innovate in ways not imagined before. Just like the M*A*S*H team, we can give the ‘best care around’ for whatever that means in our area of work.

We can grow closer…

Last, but most important, we can draw together and support each other in ways like we have never done before. Yes, we are like this little hospital team in our humanity and dysfunction, but that’s ok. We actually have more in common than not, starting with our vulnerability. Let’s be honest, laugh, cry and push forward together! As I have already written, this was a deeply impactful part of this show and we can celebrate this in our teams as well.

On this last point, looking back at my career over the last 25 years, some of the hardest times of my life working closely with others in challenging circumstances have also been the best.

On two separate occasions I led small teams that faced challenging circumstances, once in the northeast of England and another at a small abandoned school campus in South Africa. In these experiences I have seen my co-workers at their worst and they have seen me at my worst as well, but in our struggle together we saw good come which then became treasures that still exist to this day. As a result, I have the gift of some of the most special friends for life.

It may feel like you are leading not far from the front lines of a war in Covid. If so, my encouragement is to have a vision to not miss this precious opportunity to build, live and work with your team. Organisational goals, holidays and other markers of the years come and go, often with few distinct memories. However a time like this, even though we did not ask for it and maybe wish it would just go away, can be one of the richest times of our lives with others.