You feel that everything is on the verge of collapse and, no matter how hard you try, you don't get things going? Let me tell you something: in times of crisis, leadership is about guiding, connecting and, above all, keeping the course when everything seems to be on fire.
There are no magic formulas here, but there are questions you can ask and actions you can take to stop drowning in chaos and start leading for real.
Keys to keep the course when the crisis seems to be the only constant
When everything seems to be upside down, it's easy to lose the north. How to keep the course when the crisis becomes your daily co-worker? Here are some keys:
1. Fear can enter the room, but don't let him sit in your chair.
In a crisis, fear is inevitable. The important thing is not whether it comes or not, but how you handle it. If you, as a leader, let fear take control, your team will notice. And if you're not calm, How do you expect them to have it?
Fear can be useful if you use it as a warning signal, but never as an engine to make decisions. Instead of acting from panic, it breathes, analyses the facts and makes clear, data-based decisions. Remember: Your team does not need a captain to sink with them; it needs someone to lead them to more calm waters.
2. Don't try to turn off all the fires at once.
When everything seems to be on fire, it's tempting to run around trying to save everything. But here's the truth: if you try to put out all the fires at once, You're probably not able to turn one off. And in the process, you'll run out and run out of your team.
Instead, ask yourself: what can't fail today to keep us here tomorrow? Identify priorities: key customers, cash flow, your team's well-being. Focus on the essentials and leave the rest for later.
3. Listen more, talk less
In a crisis, your best tool is not motivating discourse; it's your ability to listen. Your team knows where the bottle necks are, your customers know what they expect and the numbers don't lie. If you're not listening, you're leading blind.
Ask your team what they need, what obstacles they're facing and how you can support them. Listen to your clients to understand how you can continue to bring value to them. And listen to the data, because they'll tell you the truth, even if it's not the one you want to hear. A leader who listens is a leader who makes informed decisions, not assumptions.
4. Make sure your team can swim
It's no use for you to know exactly what to do if your team doesn't have the tools, the skills or the clarity to run. Before you ask them something, ask yourself: Is this viable? Do you have what you need to do? Do you know how to do it?
Sometimes, what seems obvious to you is not obvious to them. And that's not their fault; it's your responsibility as a leader to make sure everyone is on the same page. If you don't, you'll be asking them to swim without showing them how.
Leadership is not about control, it's about clarity
In times of uncertainty, what your team needs most is a leader who gives them clarity. Clarity about what is important, clarity about how to do it and clarity about Why it's worth it.
Remember: The crisis is not eternal. The fires, however large, eventually go out. And when that happens, your team will remember if you led them calmly and firmly, or left them alone in the midst of the fire.
So breathe, focus on the essential and lead with empathy. Because at the end of the day, a leader is not someone who has all the answers, but someone who knows how to find the answers with his team.
Did you get too much? This is just the tip of the iceberg. If you really want to take your leadership to the next level, keep an eye on it. calogarcia.co And listen to my podcast. There is no boring theory here, only real tools for leaders who want real results. See you there!
