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Crisis Leadership
Exploration
HTM 491
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As the world is currently facing a pandemic due to COVID-19, let us slow
down and shift our attention from things that are not in our control, and
use this time to explore about Crisis Leadership. We will be discussing 4
types of behaviors for leaders to help their organization to overcome these
challenging time.
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Behavior 1: Decide with speed over precision

 With the crisis situation can be changing rapidly, it is

better for leader to quickly process and identify the core
value that matters to the organization first, then make
decision with conviction.

 A framework which a leader can learn from:

1. Define Priorities. Identify the most important and urgent
value, and adjust your leadership to fully aligned with
them
2. Make smart trade-offs. Think about all possibilities to
make decision that is most suited to the situation in front
of you
3. Name the decision makers. Empower your staff to
make decisions what are best for themselves, a leader’s
default is to push decision down, not up.
4. Embrace action, and don’t punish mistakes!
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Behavior 2: Adapt boldly
 Strong leaders get ahead of changing circumstances. They
are constantly searching for input and trustworthy diverse
sources, they are open-minded to new ideas and outside
expertise, and they are not afraid to admit what their
uncertainty.

 Things a leader can do to practice adaptability:

1. Decide what NOT to do. A similar process of prioritization,
put a hold on large initiatives and publicize your newest
decision of “what not to do”.
2. Throw out yesterday’s playbook. Yesterday’s plan may no
longer be relevant to today’s situation, it is important for a
leader to be open-minded and quickly adjust to new
challenges
3. Strengthen and build direct connections to your
frontline. Effective leaders extend their antennae across all
the ecosystems in which they operation, and effective
leaders never just sit behind their desks.
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Behavior 3: Reliably deliver
 During a difficult time, it is essential to have a reliable
leader who is willing to take personal ownership in
crisis.

 A reliable leader should delivers the following

behaviors:
1. Staying aligned with the team’s priorities, making
decision from the team’s perspectives
2. Setting KPIs to help tracking how the team is
performing and determining if the plans are working
or not
3. Maintaining your equanimity in any difficult situation
and establish a routine of self-care. How can you
take care for your associates if you can’t even take
care for yourself?
z Behavior 4: Engage for Impact
 As an effective leader during crisis time, one must take time
to connect and communicate with the associates, and
understanding their needs. You cannot lead by sitting at your
desk only.

 You as a leader during a crisis time should:

1. Connect with individual team members, block our your time
to conducts 30-minute “wind down” session via online
resources
2. Dig deep to engage your team, show them support and
encourage them.
3. Ask for help as needed. No leader is perfect and can do
everything themselves, identify team structures and ask for
others to support
4. Ensure to take care both customers and employees. Reach
out to customers first to show them you are, strengthen
relationship and build trust as it will possibly help your
customer returns as the crisis is over.