Building Resilience: Leadership During a Crisis

During my career, I have experienced a few economic downturns and business hiccups. Through it all, I’ve realized that leadership tactics remain the same.  Although the COVID-19 pandemic has created unique circumstances for many businesses, in order to persevere, you must adapt to challenges. 


Here’s a few pointers I’ve learned about adapting and building resilience in times of challenge.

You need your team

I do think that in a crisis people step up to the challenge. They want to get through tough times just as much as you do, so allow them to step up and help. You can do things like bring your team into discussions and planning strategies. I bet you will realize how valuable and how capable your team really is.  


Have a plan


Preparation is key. Even before a crisis occurs, you should formulate a plan and walk your team through the “what-if” situations. Determining how to execute the plan is the next step. If you have a crisis plan in place, when an unforeseen event like a global pandemic does occur, you’ll be better prepared. This helps you make decisions based on facts rather than emotion. 


Listen


On any given day, but especially during a crisis, your team needs to know that they can share their feelings and opinions with you without fear of judgement. Sometimes, they just need to be heard and understood in order to stay composed in a stressful situation. In turn, you can share your feelings, too. We are all human, and during times of crisis, we need to lean on each other.  


Communicate thoughtfully

Everyone knows the importance of keeping the lines of communications open at work. With that said, don’t assume that your team and clients automatically understand your thoughts. In tumultuous times, you need to be able to communicate your plan of action and any pertinent information clearly and honestly so others don’t need to guess. When people are feeling anxious, they need to be able to turn to their leader for instruction. 

Self-care 

I think a lot of times, we forget that self-care is vital to greater success. During a business crisis, we all need a minute to decompress. Not only is it healthy for you, but it also reflects upon your leadership. The most important thing you can do for yourself is to get enough sleep, exercise and spend time with family and friends. You can’t effectively lead your team through a crisis if you don’t have a clear head. Remember, even when days are tough, it’s just a matter of time until things will get back to normal. If you can hang in there and lead your team through turbulence, you’ll have smooth sailing when the crisis is over.

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