Leading in Times of Crisis
Summary
It is when the storm hits that a captain will earn his stripes.
It is in times of crisis that leaders earn the right to be trusted, earn the right to lead.
In difficult times, people look to their leaders to rise to the challenge.
What kind of a captain will you be in this crisis?
These are some tips that you can use to guide yourself and others through troubled times…to help you steer your ship:
1. Accept that you will make mistakes. Live with the certainty of error and that a price will be paid. It is a learning process. Don’t let mistakes make you afraid of making decisions.
2. Waiting to decide IS an option. Excessive movement is not necessarily the best solution. Waiting does not mean doing nothing: gather information, consult others. Keep calm. Like all crises, this one will pass.
3. Be on the look-out for opportunities. In crisis situations there are always opportunities for those who know how to see them. They can provide unexpected routes to success.
4. Take care of people. Share information as frequently and transparently as you can. Show empathy. Even if you have to make painful decisions, take care of people who will be affected by them.
5. Lead by Example. As a leader, be the reference of enthusiasm, commitment, serenity and balance. Stay firm on the right course.
6. Be strong. Be resilient. Be anti-fragile. It’s OK to fall. But never give up. We can all aspire to be anti-fragile, by asking ourselves a simple question:
How will this crisis make me stronger?
7. Take care of yourself. Take responsibility for your own well-being. Rest, sleep, exercise and eat well. Take care of your emotional well-being as well.
Let your team know you are doing this, and invite them to do the same.
8. Focus on what YOU CAN do. Put your energy into what depends on you. Putting a lot of energy on what is beyond your ability to do is very human, but it is very ineffective. Don’t waste your energy complaining: it’s toxic. Don’t wait for permission: if something is crying out to be done, do it!
9. Be kind to yourself.
Give yourself a break. Whatever successes you achieve, and whatever mistakes you make along the way, be proud that you have given the very best of yourself.
No one can ask more of you.
“In difficult times the whole team looks at whoever is leading and expects them to rise to the challenge.”.
Exercise I
One of the tips offered in this video has to do with focusing on what depends on you. We invite you to do the following exercise:
- Make a list of the things that, in a crisis, depend on you. In other words, the things which you CAN do, and CAN influence.
- Make another list of those things that do not depend on you. The things that you cannot do, cannot influence, but worry about.
- Now, choose which of the two lists you want to concentrate your energy on.
- Which list is likely to produce better results? Which list will make you feel more productive?
- And act accordingly.
Exercise II
Of the nine tips offered in this video,
- Which do you think is the most useful for you?
- Which one will be the most difficult to put into practise?
Reflection
In the short video clip (right of the page), from the movie “Master and Commander”, the Captain gives a leadership lesson to his team showing how, in a difficult situation such as an imminent attack, he manages to maintain an attitude of concentration and calm leadership.
What other leadership qualities of the Captain do you appreciate in this fragment of the film?
Suggestion
If you have the time, watch the video “The Raft of the Medusa (Strength and Resilience)”.
Practice with your Team – Guide
Questions
- In your opinion, what role should a leader play in crisis situations?
- What are the primary attributes or actions you look for in a leader when in a crisis?
- How important is your role as Leader in moments of crisis and how should you behave?
- How prepared are you to lead others in times of crisis?
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