Leading Through Crisis
Leading through a crisis can be challenging and difficult for many people to navigate. A common question arises: “How can we lead others to succeed when we are dealing with personal strife and struggle?” As a leader who has navigated both internal and external struggles, I have often contemplated this question. I have found the following techniques helpful in practicing authentic leadership and managing challenges without compromising my leadership abilities.
- Find a Way to Express Your Emotions
Many leaders attempt to eliminate emotion from their roles, believing it will make them appear stronger and more reliable. But in fact, the opposite is true. Expressing your emotions to your team helps them understand you better and fosters a sense of connection. Finding a constructive way to express feelings of anger, sadness, grief, or loss increases transparency within your team and makes them aware of any barriers affecting your work performance. This also provides your teammates with an opportunity to support you.
- Be Realistic
While it's hard not to dwell on circumstances, doing so does not give you control over situations. Strive to remain calm and adjust your strategy based on new developments. Adapting your strategies and work goals to accommodate shifting circumstances is essential during a crisis. Often, people let work deadlines overwhelm them and fail to give themselves grace while navigating life’s challenges. It’s important to recognize that adjusting deadlines, goals, and workloads is crucial in managing crises. People cope with life circumstances differently, so it’s vital to be realistic about deadlines and workloads and to adjust them as needed.
- Practice Empathy
Empathy is essential not only in the healing process but also when working in teams. During a crisis, many people need a listening ear and compassion from others. Practicing empathy increases understanding and awareness among team members, allowing them to use this understanding to help overcome barriers and find solutions. It’s important to remember that we never know the personal struggles others on our team may be experiencing. Creating a compassionate and productive workspace promotes openness and connection.
- Trust Your Team and Delegate
During difficult times, it’s likely that you will need to delegate tasks to ensure the company’s goals are still being achieved. Trusting your team and their abilities builds confidence that objectives are being met and allows team members to be creative in their assignments. Delegating tasks can be tricky, as many leaders prefer to handle things themselves. However, it's crucial to recognize that we have a team for a reason—they are there to support us when we struggle. To delegate effectively, we need to understand our team members’ strengths and current workloads. Once we do this and trust our team, we can delegate tasks efficiently.
- Engage in Self-Care and Self-Compassion
As leaders, it’s essential to remember that we are human first, and we need to give ourselves care and compassion. When feeling burnt out, sad, or stressed, engaging in activities that help us decompress is vital. Common self-care activities include working out, taking naps, cooking, cleaning, watching TV, going for a walk, practicing skincare, visiting a museum, creating art, and more. Engaging in activities we love helps us clear our minds and take care of ourselves as human beings.
I hope you will consider trying some of these tips when facing a personal struggle or crisis. Remember that no struggle is too small to take seriously, and it’s important to recognize and acknowledge our feelings as leaders so we can improve our effectiveness.
