In normal times we expect our leaders to be positive, flexible and focused.
But what are the skills that a leader should have to manage a crisis?
Here are 5 leadership skills that leaders must have to manage a crisis effectively:
- Focus
- Adaptability
- Communication
- Creativity
- Availability
The first skill is Focus.
One of the most important skills a leader must have during times of crisis is to keep focus under pressure.
During a crisis there will be lots of stress, but panicking is not the solution.
Leaders need to be able to remain calm and focus on collecting relevant information as soon as possible.
As a leader you must be able to analyze the situation in order to identify what the problems are.
The options must be reviewed in order to reach the best solution.
It’s then essential to measure the risks and consequences of each option.
The second skill is Adaptability.
During a crisis, situations can evolve quickly and unexpectedly.
Great leaders know how to adapt to different situations.
Their initial responses and strategies cannot be the last.
Strategies and responses can change as any new information is available or new observations are made.
The message here is simple: make plans, but stay flexible and responsive in case things change.
The third skill is Communication.
Every leader knows that communication during a crisis is critical.
When there is a lack of information during difficult times, people will fill in the gaps with speculations.
For this reason, keeping communication as open as possible is extremely important.
During a crisis leaders must communicate clearly, concisely, and in a timely manner.
In fact, when leaders communicate with urgency, transparency, and empathy, they help people feel better about constantly changing conditions.
Frequent communication reduces fear and uncertainty.
The fourth skill is Creativity.
To move forward in a crisis, leaders need to think outside the box.
Leaders need to embrace challenges and utilize the unique talents of those around them to develop a solution.
They must encourage different perspectives and use their knowledge to come up with a creative solution to the problem.
To develop creative solutions, leaders need to challenge long-term beliefs and decide if they are helpful or not in solving the crisis.
The fifth and final skill is Availability.
In times of crisis, leaders should be accessible.
It is important to let people know that they can contact their leader for status updates, questions and concerns.
Particularly during a crisis, people have a need to hear from their leaders frequently.
Again, frequent communication reduces fear and uncertainty.
When leaders appear calm, informed, and in charge, people feel encouraged and have more confidence that things will be fine.
To sum up
Crises can emerge in many different forms and often strike without warning.
For this reason, it takes leaders who are well-prepared and can think on their feet to find creative solutions to these problems.
Michelle Obama once said:
You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.
Michelle Obama
