The real test of leadership doesn’t occur when everything is going well. Rather, it’s in times of crisis when you get to see how much of a leader you are and whether you can establish your credentials.
But that doesn’t mean you should just wait for things to start going wrong to test your skills. Putting some effort into preparing for situations like this can sometimes mean the difference between success and failure. With that said, it’s a good idea to learn how to lead your team in crisis on time. Here are 6 ways to do this.
1. Project confidence
People tend to get nervous when things start going wrong. This is something you can notice in the way they talk and perform their day-to-day tasks. One of the biggest reasons for this is fear.
They’re afraid their big project will fail or that the company will have to shut down. If you project fear as well, that unease will make it even more difficult for everyone in your team to do well. Therefore, it’s your job to look like you are the master of the situation even if you don’t feel that way. Know how to stay calm and it’ll become easier for everyone else to contribute to the recovery process.
2. Be there for your team
Sometimes, situations like this can be extremely tough for some of your members. Work can start affecting their personal life and things may become even tougher.
It’s the leader’s job to spot employees who are having a hard time and support them as much as you can. Make sure everyone in your company knows they can turn to you with absolutely anything and show them you and your HR team are willing to help. Of course, every situation is different but try to use the breaks you take from helping your company get back on its feet to help others manage work and other responsibilities in their lives.
3. Be decisive
Showing that you don’t know what you’re doing in times of crisis can make the entire situation even worse. If you want to be a good leader, you have to be able to make decisions on the fly. In fact, it’s your job to be ready to make even the hardest decisions in a timely fashion. That’s one of the best ways to show your team that you’re not afraid of taking action.
Also, if some of the decisions you’re supposed to make don’t align with your views and values, make them anyway. Being able to adapt your decisions to your company’s current needs is guaranteed to inspire employees to take the same approach.
4. Focus on cash
A successful turnaround comes down to one thing – cash. If you’re able to take care of your company’s money, you’ll find it easier to deal with the situation and your team will remain calm. The most important thing you have to do is ensure the company has enough to pay the bills and issue paychecks on time.
However, if you really want to master money management, trading and trying to learn more about market psychology is something you just can’t go wrong with. Make some extra cash by trading and you’ll never have to worry about your company running out of money.
5. Stay in control
In times of crisis, your work environment can easily go out of control. It may not seem like that right now but once the chaos starts, you and your team will feel stressed out and that’ll reflect on your work environment.
When things like that happen, it’s imperative for the leader to get a better grip on the situation and show the team everything’s under control. For example, make sure you’re able to delegate tasks quickly enough and keep the office neat, even if that’s not a priority at the moment.
The only way to develop a good recovery plan is if everyone stays calm and your work environment remains the same as it always is.
6. Exercise caution
Just because your business is facing a crisis, it doesn’t mean you and your team members don’t have to be cautious about your work. The more you panic and ignore the stuff you’d normally pay attention to, the more things will go out of control.
That said, it’s your job to exercise caution even when the company’s having a hard time. It’s all about the alertness of mind and your leadership skills. Try to stay calm and observe the operations as if the company wasn’t in a crisis. Get even the smallest tasks right and your company will be on the right track to recover and continue doing business as usual.
Over to you
These are all important things to have in mind if you want you and your staff members to be able to deal with any issues that come up. Get everything right and your business will have no trouble surviving even the biggest crises.
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Image Credit: Mathias Jensen
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