How To Lead Through A Crisis

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Knowing how to lead through a crisis is vitally important for professionals in all industries. Possessing these traits will allow leaders to address unpredictable issues for the betterment of an organisation, its employees and customers.

Every leader envisions a steady environment where roles, objectives and processes are clear, and infrastructure and guidelines are in place. However, this is not always true in the business world. Turbulent times are inevitable. There will be times when maintaining liquidity, controlling costs, managing operational challenges and dealing with staff shortages and more will be major challenges that must be addressed. In such times, when everything seems uncertain, leadership skills are tested in ways leaders never thought of. Moreover, only a good leader can steer an organization successfully during a crisis. So, what are the traits that make strong leaders for such times? Successful and strong leaders set themselves apart from the rest in crisis management by possessing these 5 leadership traits, which are instrumental in navigating a shaky business environment and understanding how to lead through a crisis.

How To Lead Through Crises: 5 Leadership Traits to Possess:

• 1. Effective communication
• 2. Resourcefulness
• 3. Decision-making
• 4. Reliability
• 5. Empathy

1.  Effective communication

Effective communication is always crucial for any organization if everything is to run well. However, it  becomes absolutely critical when managing a crisis. This is because everybody is on the edge during a crisis. People want to know what is actually happening at all times, what the leaders are doing to contain the situation, and when things are expected to get back to normal. Without clear and timely communication, misinformation is bound to happen. Unfortunately, this can be a recipe for disaster. Any leader who wants to know how to lead through a crisis successfully must know what, when, and how to communicate, especially when the news you have to share may be discouraging . Here are some tips on how to go about it:

• Share essential information clearly and in a timely manner – When fear and concerns are heightened, digesting too much information can be overwhelming. Stick to only what is essential and provide it as soon as possible.
• Be honest – Strong leaders accept that they don’t know all the answers. Share what you know and be honest about what you don’t know.
• Use multiple platforms and communicate repeatedly – When managing a crisis, it is important that everyone gets the information and understands your message. Ensure that you use multiple means to connect with your team such as emails and group chats in addition to in-person meetings. Repeat the information frequently and in different formats if need be.
• Prepare for questions – Ensure that you explain things before concerns and questions start coming. However, be sure to listen to your team’s questions and concerns anyway. Be ready with the answers you have, and be honest when you can’t provide one.
• Be human and listen – A crisis can cause a rollercoaster of emotions for everyone. Embrace what you are feeling and be sensitive to your team’s emotions. Listen to what they are saying and try to connect to them on a human level. This way of communication will not only make the work more efficient, but it will also motivate your team. 

2.  Resourcefulness

A resourceful person quickly adapts to different situations and thinks creatively to find solutions. A crisis happens with little or no warning. This is not the time to panic or start wondering what to do. To lead through a crisis, a good crisis leader is able to jump in quickly, salvage what  resources are left, and make the most out of it. This involves:

• Looking beyond how things have always been done and focusing on doing them differently to better the situation
• Learning new things and understanding problematic processes in a bid to find solutions
• Being open-minded to new possibilities
• Optimizing the existing resources and working more effectively
• Preparing for the future by dedicating organization resources for future crises – 

3.  Decision-making

Decision-making in crisis management can be daunting, yet critical. At this time, things are unclear and probably unprecedented, information may be incomplete and time is limited, which clouds the decision-making process. However, a good crisis leader is able to process the available information quickly, determine what matters most and move quickly to make decisions. How can you make quality decision making a cornerstone of your crisis leadership?

• Identify the underlying objectives; the problem that the decision is going to solve
• Stay flexible and responsive, especially where things are changing rapidly
• Manage emotions to avoid pitfalls or hindrances
• Trust your intuition
• Move forward and change strategy later if it becomes necessary 

4.  Reliability

When considering how to lead through a crisis, the challenges may be out of your control. Nevertheless, all eyes are on you to show direction and ensure business continuity during this time. You might be needed to take personal ownership of the problem and reliably deliver in all areas. This might mean aligning your team’s focus, setting KPIs and new metrics to measure performance as well as fostering accountability across the team. Have your department leaders identify their top priorities daily or weekly and report back to you. This will ensure that you are aligned and alert on what the priorities are. Let the leaders measure performance against the set metrics and keep you on the know. In addition, remember to be available, while also being open about your own well-being needs during this time.  For this reason, be mindful of your mind and body to ensure that you stay in a fighting shape.

5.  Empathy

Showing empathy is a powerful tool to lead through the crisis. Emotions are bound to run high for you and others during a crisis. However, if you are to work together as a team and emerge successfully at the other side of the crisis, caring genuinely about how other people are feeling is essential. Strive to understand their perspectives and walk in their shoes. Invest time to listen to their concerns. Act empathetically and step in to help and empower them to thrive. In addition, prioritize employees’ mental wellbeing and communicate ways that they can take care of themselves. However, you have to work on your emotions first. Don’t portray yourself as being okay when this is not true, sometimes sharing your struggles shows that you are human as well. Prioritize self-care for yourself as well in order to be prepared for the demands of crisis leadership.

6. Outsourcing 

In the face of a crisis, businesses are forced to rethink their operations and make strategic shifts. This is where the benefits of outsourcing shine most brightly- it allows companies not only foreseeable short term needs but also gives them stability over time so they can continue growing and adapting as conditions change around us constantly. 

The use of outsourcing has been an optimal strategy for many businesses in this era. Facing multiple challenges at once, it’s proven to be a great way to keep your company afloat and thriving with success! Outsourcing is a fantastic way to get work done without having the burden yourself.

For instance, a good crisis leader would decide to outsource to a PEO services provider. So, what are PEO services and how do they benefit an organization during a crisis? PEO services are services provided by a professional employer organization that includes payroll and benefits administration among other employee administration tasks. During a crisis, a PEO can step in to foster business continuity in a crisis through timely payroll processing, handling new employees’ onboarding or lay-offs, communicating about benefits and leaves, and informing on any regulatory changes among other tasks. 

Conclusion

It is when leading in a crisis that leadership skills and capabilities are tested. However, even amidst fear and uncertainty, good crisis leaders rise to the occasion and take steering wheel. For those asking how to lead through a crisis, the above five leadership traits can help them to adapt and lead their workplaces to a better outcome. Clear and effective communication, resourcefulness, good decision making and reliability make it easier to know how to lead through a crisis. Moreover, showing empathy ensures that everyone remembers that each workplace is made of individuals working together for the best of the organization and the team.