it’s in time of crisis that the willing will learn the most

A crisis arrives without warning to highjack our world and turn our routines into chaos. We have choices to make to avoid being paralyzed by the new reality.

We have all learned how unpredictable life can be after two years of emotional turmoil and a real baptism by fire.

Difficult times are real teaching moments since life, unlike school, gives us the test first then the lesson. Our reactions – whether to fight, flee or freeze – will certainly determine the type of person we become as events unfold.

Every difficult situation presents an opportunity – and an obligation I believe – for us all to step up to the plate, get involved, face the fear, stay focused on what we can control, learn a new skill, resolve a problem, think positively and creatively, and at times even take the lead to help ourselves and others with the recovery process. Among family and friends, this attitude will strengthen the bond of relationships. At work, grit will demonstrate aptitude, loyalty and potential, and will certainly improve status at any company. The opposite is unfortunately also true where one's credibility can be greatly damaged and trust is often lost.

A crisis can separate those who show up from those who are shown up.

While we should always be learning how to become better leaders on the job, we can quickly find ourselves unprepared in times of high uncertainty where deliberate action, discipline and leading from the front become essential to managing any crisis, controlling the chaos and avoiding panic.

I am a student of learning and believe that practice fortifies muscle memory. I have found that whatever the trying circumstances, improving our listening skills – an improvement area for most everyone – should enable us to put in place an effective and coherent mitigation plan. Additionally, being decisive but compassionate will help us choose speed over precision while paying attention to the 'pulse of the organization'. Likewise, intentionally targeting audiences and openly communicating progress and expectations are essential to rallying everyone to participate and to implementing the recovery in uncertain times.

• Listening to understand: To properly listen, we will have to stay calm and collected which is essential in managing every crisis, and is easier said than done. To properly understand, we will not interrupt, we will verify and validate facts without judgement, we will hear people out and restate their concerns, we will practice empathy to relate to the pain and we will enlist additional support or expertise as and when needed to resolve problems. All this helps us quickly adapt to the changing environment and boldly adopt new ways of thinking.
• Being decisive but compassionate: Inaction is certainly not a choice in times of crisis. Challenges are best faced with deliberate, coordinated, adaptable and empathic mitigation plans. The best leaders are kind and compassionate, take ownership in a crisis and stay focused on what they can control. They align goals and objectives and create a culture of integrity and accountability. Implementing thoughtful and impactful actions should quickly begin to alleviate the pain as incidents are better understood and addressed, response is planned and activated, business continuity is mapped out and assured, and the recovery process is organized and underway.?
• Communicating for impact: A crisis is both humbling and daunting for any leader. Some may be tempted to just simply state that everything will be fine. It is better to exhibit a positive attitude without ignoring the concerns or downplaying the efforts it will take to fix problems, and to create a safe environment where productive debate can take place and lead to innovative solutions. Delicately balancing regular, transparent and consistent messages with mindful and responsible communications will prevent panic and help an organization pull closer together, proactively collaborate and make substantial progress.

It is not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’ a crisis comes about. Our goal must focus on enabling an environment which empowers individuals and teams alike to anticipate unsafe situations, and encourages them to step in and speak up to mitigate for serious risks.

All challenges will be overcome with a combination of willing talent, responsible behaviors and personal interests to make a positive impact, along with an appropriate strategy based on deliberate and compassionate action plans to navigate any storm.

Readers are welcome to share their experiences and insights in the comments section.

Best wishes to everyone. Stay safe and healthy.