ABSTRACT
The culture, character, and values of people are revealed in times of crisis. Described as a “crisis within a crisis,” the Covid-19 pandemic in Lebanon comes at a time of unprecedented economic, financial, and political turmoil. Covid-19 has tested people’s resilience, a quality Lebanese are well known for. Coping under such turbulent times is an “enormous challenge” that requires exceptional leadership (Lagowska et al., 2020), communication strategies (Sobral et al., 2020; Arnaout & Esposito, 2018), and a cultivating of people’s resilience (Polizzi et al., 2020; Reich, 2006). The Lebanese Minister of Health is an example of someone who capitalized on his “crisis-related leadership skills” to consolidate his leadership during Covid-19, positively influencing the public’s emotional reaction/resilience, as well as the perception of government effectiveness in managing the pandemic. This show of leadership is supported by the results of the Covid-19 Fever Project, an international study merging neuroscience, psychology, and artificial intelligence (AI), which measured the nonconscious attitudes, experiences, and sentiments of the Lebanese during Covid-19. Using I-code smart tests (reaction time testing (RTT)), the results help leaders identify the real areas of strengths or weaknesses (in attitudes) and refer to real concerns. In brief, results show confidence in the leadership’s management of Covid-19, at the same time implicitly affirming Lebanese resilience.
