Leading Change Through Crisis

Change is a constant in the business world, whether it is driven by new technology or shifts in the market and labor force. However, when change is combined with a crisis, the role of leaders becomes even more crucial. Their leadership skills are not just required but are the key to successfully guiding their teams through difficult times and building resilience. People are an organization’s greatest asset, and to enable staff to be engaged, agile, and able to adapt and sustain change, leaders must lead rather than just manage. During times of crisis, people will look to their leaders for stability and reassurance that they can be part of the solution.

Leaders have several levers to use during times of crisis, including decisiveness, authenticity, and empathy. However, effective communication and adaptability are essential for managing change during a crisis. These levers are standard components of change management sponsorship, as they help accountable leaders provide the necessary resources to implement change successfully.

Here are the Top Five Techniques to Help Leaders Lead Change Effectively During a Crisis:

1. Start by swiftly gathering all the facts and information available, establish clear priorities and a focus point, and then create your response to move forward with the best possible outcome.

2. Take a human-centric approach to leading change through crisis is not just a strategy; it is a necessity. This approach should begin with clear communication. During times of crisis, there may be a tendency to downplay the severity of the situation to avoid causing panic. However, leaders should communicate transparently and with certainty. Effective leaders will also communicate empathetically, intentionally connecting with messages of resilience and capability.

3. Create an environment that empowers your teams to confidently organize rapid problem-solving and execution under high stress. Provide tools and remove barriers to enable this. Demonstrating collaboration and transparency will inspire your teams to do the same.

4. Demonstrate agility. Teams look to their leaders for thoughtful yet swift responses to crises. Be sure to be adaptive and collaborative. Change agility will embed new ways of thinking and encourage rapid problem-solving and responses among your teams.

5. Address fears head-on. Be candid with your team and promote a safe environment to discuss ideas, questions, and concerns. Sharing ideas will help cultivate problem-solving and mitigate further risks.