The importance of leadership during times of crisis

COVID-19 has shook the world to its core. Businesses and organizations were struck with a crisis outside the wildest of expectations, and for some it may have even been the final nail in the coffin. On the other hand, there are some who have weathered the storm, with some even turning it into an opportunity to progress and improve. In many such cases, a defining factor for their failures and successes is their leadership.

Provide direction

In a crisis, the leader is the compass for the team. They assess what the situation is, what possible solutions are available, and navigate the team towards the tasks they need to do. Employees may panic or be lost in what to do, so leaders must strive to set them straight and give them directives to prevent the inevitable chaos. The team will feel much more assured knowing that someone up top is monitoring the situation for them and they can focus on their own tasks.

This is why good leaders are good communicators, and also good sympathizers. The crisis of COVID-19 is quite different from something like a company scandal or profit losses; it is quite personal because it is a threat to mortality. Communication is key not only for the efficiency of getting things done, but also due to its social and emotional roles in connecting us through crises. Employees will always appreciate a leader who looks out for them.

Stability and adaptability

A great leader is one that seems unshakable--they just seem to know what to do in any situation. However, a truly excellent leader also knows what they do not know and can’t do. Crisis can spur leaders to act out of character, or resort to desperate measures out of fear. Being cautious and grounded prevents the company from driving off a cliff in chase of some half-baked solution.

Crises in general are not new, and a leader should already have planned in advance for possible crises they may encounter. Contingency plans, exit strategies, emergency drills--these are some of the many measures set in place in case things go wrong. However, when even those fail, a leader should adapt quickly yet thoughtfully, using whatever is at hand to resolve the issue at hand.

Morale boost

When things go south, sometimes it can be hard to believe that things will get better. However, a leader is duty-bound to believe that it will, because if the leader doesn’t believe it, who among their team will? Many successful companies in the past have gone through low points in their career, and it is by persevering that they were able to climb their way back up again. It becomes less stressful when a leader is there to constantly motivate and assure you that everything will be alright.

Learn from the experience

The leader’s role is not done after the crisis is averted. Instead, they must use it as a stepping stone to improve further upon the company’s systems and practices. COVID-19 is also not the last crisis to ever affect us, nor will it be the worst. If leaders do not take the time to review, learn and apply the lessons taught to us by COVID-19, they may end up succumbing to the next crisis that comes their way.

Leadership is a pivotal role to the success of any venture, and companies spend countless hours finding managers and executives to ensure that their employees can be led smoothly and securely. In a crisis, good leadership is key to the team’s direction, efficiency and morale, and can steer them out of turbulent waters.