When a crisis strikes, you can’t just manage in the normal manner, you also have to exercise effective crisis leadership. Too often executives see their role during a crisis as managing the organization’s image and communicating with the public through the media. This is a necessary function, but it is only one small part of crisis leadership and management. Crisis leadership involves the following principles:
- Take charge of the situation.
- Recognize what is happening.
- Confirm information before reacting.
- Maintain situational awareness.
- Lead from the front.
- Implement contingency plans and procedures immediately while initiating deliberate decision-making about the next steps.
- Continue planning ahead.
- Act, assess, and adjust.
- Care for yourself and for your subordinates.
- Maintain morale and cohesion within your team or organization.
Richard Martin is a consultant, speaker, and executive coach. He brings his military and business leadership and management experience to bear for executives and organizations seeking to exploit change, maximize opportunity, and minimize risk.
© 2014 Richard Martin. Reproduction and quotes are permitted with proper attribution.