LEADERSHIP TIPS FOR DEALING WITH CRISIS
Posted by Doreen McGunagle on Tue, Dec 14, 2010 @ 09:08 AM
Growing Your Business | Global Strategic Management Solutions
"A crisis is like car trouble – it isn't a question of if it will happen, rather when it is heading your way."
~Anonymous
Whether you are handling unexpected budget issues, employee disputes, or team breakdowns, one thing is for sure –The deeper the crisis, the more challenging it is for managers and executives to figure out how to solve the problems and put everyone back on track.
How do you typically lead your team out of Crisis Mode?
Take action. Okay, we all have heard this one, right? How many public figures have been taken down by their inability to act on a problem? Here is a twist on the "Take Action" principle. The truth is that even doing nothing is taking action; it will just be more likely to have negative results. So take a risk, and take an action that is likely to pull your team out of the crisis!
Prioritize. You can't fix every aspect of your crisis at once, so help frame the process for your team by prioritizing components of the problem.
Stay focused on results. If your team keeps its focus on the finish line, any lingering relationship issues or conversations about blame will fall by the wayside.
Tighten discipline. With so many issues simultaneously, a crisis situation is a good time to remind your team of the consistent expectations you (and the organization) have for them.
Overcommunicate. As a leader, it is easy to focus on operations or problem solving at the expense of staff communication. Don't let yourself fall into this trap. Utilize your team as a resource. Increased communication will lessen the negative impact of the crisis.
Use these five tips to steer yourself out of whatever crisis you are facing, and pull them back out again for the next time! Effective leadership requires the ability to change your style that responds to the current situation.
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