Principles for Leading in Crisis
It is pretty clear there is no guide to managing a crisis -- every crisis is different. And if you read any of the latest articles listed below, the advice can also vary, depending on the perspective of the author.
As a leader, though, there are some solid principles that should guide you, regardless of the crisis.
Here is my summary based on these articles and my own perspective born out of experience.
Put your people first. Never forget that.
Ensure you take some time to take care of yourself to ensure you can stay calm and focused.
Be the leader your staff can trust (and hopefully, you already have this trust), communicating the facts, debunking myths, and being honest about what you don’t know...and don’t forget to be kind (see #1). Do this often.
Stay focused on a broad, holistic view of both the challenges and opportunities, and leave the management to delegated team members. If you don’t have anyone to delegate to, then you will have to do your best to do both.
Be ready to make decisions quickly. You need to focus on creating order and you can do this by making decisions on what needs to be done, when and by whom.
Ensure a coordinated effort with team members knowing how they contribute.
Stay flexible and use this opportunity to explore options and innovate.
What is interesting is how these principles would be useful for any leader without a crisis!
Let me know if you would like some help to be the best leader you can be.
Resources:
McNulty, E. J. and Marcus, L. (2020). Are You Leading Through the Crisi or Managing the Response? Retrieved from: https://hbr.org/2020/03/are-you-leading-through-the-crisis-or-managing-the-response
Copenhaver, D. (2020). Leading Through Crisis and Calming the Storm. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbooksauthors/2020/03/25/leading-through-crisis-and-calming-the-storm/#3d89afba3523
Temin, D. (2020). Chaos Leadership: When Does Global Crisis Turn Into Chaos and How Do You Survive It. Retreived from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviatemin/2020/03/27/chaos-leadership-when-does-global-crisis-turn-into-chaos-and-how-do-you-survive-it/#69ab216a3d41
Temin, D. (2020). Crisis Leadership in Real Time: 8 Pandemic Best Practices. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviatemin/2020/03/04/crisis-leadership-in-real-time-8-pandemic-best-practices/#73fbe4d2797e
Engagedly. (2018). Leadership in Times of Crisis. Retrieved from: https://engagedly.com/leadership-in-times-of-crisis/
Photo: Tammy Brimner/TLBVelo Photography
