Crisis Leadership: Be Exceedingly Human
03/17/2022
Many business owners have been in crisis management mode for over two years. It started with the pandemic, and just as that began to wane, along comes supply chain disruption, shortages of key inputs, inflation in every business sector and consumer product, and now the international disruption of a war in Europe. There are more unknowns than knowns, and the uncertainty we have as leaders spreads to our employees and family members.
Whenever we experience a crisis in our family, company or community, leaders must step up and do all they can to help their people navigate the uncertainties that plague even the most resolute individuals.
Here are a few thoughts for your consideration.
Your time is precious, so I’ll get right to the bullet points.
Many business owners have been in crisis management mode for over two years. It started with the pandemic, and just as that began to wane, along comes supply chain disruption, shortages of key inputs, inflation in every business sector and consumer product, and now the international disruption of a war in Europe. There are more unknowns than knowns, and the uncertainty we have as leaders spreads to our employees and family members.
Whenever we experience a crisis in our family, company or community, leaders must step up and do all they can to help their people navigate the uncertainties that plague even the most resolute individuals.
Here are a few thoughts for your consideration.
Your time is precious, so I’ll get right to the bullet points.
1. As a leader, remember that your people are watching you more closely than any time before.
2. Be your best self and in this moment, be the very best human you can be.
3. This may be one of the first times as a leader that you feel you aren’t any smarter than anyone else. It’s okay. No one is expecting you to have all the answers. No one has all the answers.
4. Your success will not result from having a perfect plan, so quit trying to make one. There isn’t one. The key to your success will be in your ability to adapt to all the rapidly changing inputs, disruptions and circumstances.
5. Drawing on the trust you’ve built with your people over the years, and building trust during these times, can be one of your main footholds.
6. You can build significant trust by being transparent about what you don’t know, what you do know for certain, and the tough decisions that you must make to address crucial issues.
7. Uncertainty causes and exacerbates anxiety, gossip and frustration. Your people will be calmed by your clear facts and bold truth.
8. Count on your key people. You know who they are. Ask for their input more than any time in the past.
9. Be sure that you are getting your information from the most reliable sources. They may be different than the ones you have used in the past.
10. Keep it simple. The less complicated the better for everyone involved.
11. The companies that go through this crisis well, come out healthier and stronger.
12. Great leaders rally people around their cause. Consider having a temporary Rallying Cry for everyone to stay focused on, such as “Let’s Feed the World” or “Staying Healthy is Job One” or even something as simple as “Teamwork.”
I’ll end with sage advice from one of my friends, a professor in IT Management:
“Stay calm, be brave, always to the right thing, and keep flying the airplane. Don’t forget to fly the airplane!”
Great advice to heed as we lead our people and help our clients lead their people.
Don Tyler
ASAC Member
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