Managing and Leading in a Crisis

Crisis doesn’t create leaders. It reveals them.

When everything feels uncertain, your team looks to you for calm, clarity, and direction.

The best managers don’t freeze or panic. They lead—with empathy and decisiveness.

Why It Matters:

• Culture: Crisis leadership shapes trust and resilience.

• Performance: The right response keeps teams focused and moving.

• Retention: People stay with leaders who guide them through the storm.

What Most Managers Overlook:

They think leading in a crisis means having all the answers.
But it’s about being honest about what you know, what you don’t, and what comes next.

When Jacinda Ardern led New Zealand through the COVID-19 pandemic, she didn’t sugarcoat the challenges. She communicated directly and with empathy. That honesty didn’t just build trust—it created a sense of shared purpose and hope.

How to Get It Right:

• Communicate openly and frequently—even if there’s no update.

• Focus on what’s clear and what’s next, not what’s unknown.

• Make decisions with the best information you have—but stay ready to adjust.

• Show empathy. Acknowledge the stress, not just the task.

Do:
✅ Be transparent about the situation
✅ Create a sense of direction and focus
✅ Listen and adapt quickly

Don’t:
❌ Disappear into decision-making without sharing updates
❌ Ignore your team’s emotions—they’re real and they matter
❌ Overpromise—trust is built on truth, not false certainty

The best leaders don’t just survive crises.
They use them to strengthen their teams.