Provide Strong Leadership During a Crisis

What strong leaders do well during a crisis

We are living in unprecedented times, and we are all in this together. There are things that strong leaders do well during a crisis so let’s explore them.

During a crisis, leaders will have to lead without knowing all the details. A problem will reveal the true leaders, and you will see them engaged and working on solutions.

Leaders are determined to allow what is happening to them to reveal what is happening within them. Leaders are guided by values and do what is right regardless of circumstances.

Leaders have faith and hope that things will get better. A crisis will test a leader’s confidence, but they will take courageous action to help solve problems.

Lead with determination through a crisis

Leaders need to lead through crises with determination. The problem will cause challenges, and the leader needs to guide the team to get everyone through the situation. Leaders must stay determined to meet the challenge.

A crisis leader will be flexible, thoughtful, and ready to adapt to change. A leader will turn on a dime! A crisis requires flexibility and the ability to pivot.

During a crisis, a leader will not see what is coming next. They will have to move the team forward without clarity. The key is movement because things become more straightforward as the team moves ahead, unified and determined to overcome.

Communication is key to leadership.

Crisis management will require daily communication. Here are some components needed for effective communication.

• Compassion
• Contextual communication
• Transparency
• Clear direction
• Awareness and openness to new ideas
• Two-way communication – leaders listen
• Collaboration
• Intuitive timing and approach
• Agility and quick decisions
• Communicate the success and encouragement
• Confidence
• Positive attitude
• Embrace values – communicate with values, not pressure
• Faith, hope, and love

Spreading fear makes a crisis more severe

Communicate with faith, hope, love, confidence, and encouragement. A leader sets the tone during a crisis. Leaders need to laugh and cry with their people when it is appropriate. People do not care how much a leader knows until they know how much a leader cares. (especially during a crisis)

Courage is doing the right thing in the face of your fears. Leaders need to ask for help when they are fearful. People come together and help each other when times get tough. Leaders will surround themselves with people who can solve problems and take action.

Leaders help people during crises.

Leaders put people first and help them through crises. Profits have to take a back seat to health, safety, provision, mental health, and assistance.

Values must be the driving force behind a leader’s decisions during a crisis. It should be the driving force during a problem.

Leaders need to make hard decisions and realize that not everything will turn out great. There will be a loss, setbacks, challenges, and even heartbreak. There might be defeat and loss that will test a leader’s resolve to go on. Encourage people to come together during these times because people want to help even when they are scared.

Leaders inspire hope and confidence.

Leaders inspire hope regardless of the circumstances. Hope and confidence need to shine brighter than the darkest circumstances! Attitudes are contagious during rough times, so make sure yours is worth catching.

Work with Federal, State, and City governments.

Leadership is about collaboration and working together. Leaders will not agree with every decision or policy, but leaders will negotiate, collaborate and cooperate with authorities for the greater good.

Collaboration is not easy during a crisis, but a leader must go into the situation and work together.

Crisis leaders navigate without a compass.

The hard truth is that crisis will lead us into unknown territory. Great leaders have studied the maps to success and know where they are going during “normal” circumstances. However, a crisis will destroy the map and take you down roads you have never been before. Strong leaders move ahead with determination.

Leading through a crisis can stretch a leader to the limit at times. A leader must rely on experience, determination, wisdom, agility, and skills but the best characteristics are faith, hope, and love during a crisis. When things fall apart, and they will, a leader will need these characteristics to help get them through.

Leaders apply new learning during a crisis.

Leaders will experience new challenges during a crisis, which means they will learn new things. A leader must take a few minutes to reflect on what they have just learned and then apply it.

A new decision is around the corner, so apply new learning to make better decisions. Leaders take action, reflect on the results and apply new knowledge. Learning will be a leader’s process during a crisis.

Leaders need to talk with their teams and learn from them. They will sometimes come up with great ideas, and the leader can help implement them.

Leaders navigate. Leaders anticipate change and expect it during a crisis. A leader will be highly engaged in navigation during a problem.

Leaders are realistic and pursue resources.

Crisis leadership will require a focus on new resources. Everyday business is no longer regular during a crisis, so a leader needs to be resourceful. A leader may need to add new ways to serve customers or adjust the workflow process. Things may come to a halt, and the leader may need to ask for outside help.

Pivot, move, pivot, move. It is great to see businesses come together to meet needs and produce new things. Clothing companies make masks, while tech and car companies make medical equipment.

Great leaders of great companies, large and small, come together to be resourceful during a crisis. We are better together during a problem. The leaders, teams, companies, and people are better off because of it.

Kindness is leadership regardless of position.

Leaders, team members, citizens, and communities show outstanding leadership when they are kind to one another. People are showing kindness with their words and deeds, and it is going viral, which is worth spreading.

Serving is Leadership by example.

Crisis leadership is about serving. To all the doctors, nurses, EMTs, fire, police, support staff, grocery workers, restaurant workers, delivery drivers, plant workers, truck drivers, government officials, pastors, customer service reps, business owners, and active employees; we thank you for all you are doing during this challenging time.

God Bless America

• We pray for those that are sick. Please heal.
• We pray for those out of work. Please provide.
• We pray for medical workers, guide them, keep them healthy and give them supplies.
• We pray for essential workers and keep them rested, healthy and safe.
• We pray for our economy. May we all get back to work soon.
• We pray for Faith, Hope, and Love during this time. Amen.

**Credit: Some of the ideas shared are from a recent John Maxwell podcast.

John Maxwell Leadership Podcast