Being a great leader requires building expertise in a range of different competencies, from communication to conflict resolution, strategic planning to delegation, and more. For leaders steering an organization through a crisis, solid people management skills are vital.
The best leaders can navigate challenging circumstances and emerge victorious. They’re able to support and encourage their teams, even in the face of uncertainty or adversity. Here’s how they do it.
Park the ego.
One of the first things we can learn from individuals able to lead through adversity is that they can set their ego aside and get down to the task at hand. A little humility goes a long way in this position. Certainly, the mantel of leadership comes with a degree of prestige, and people look to their leaders for direction. When you’re called upon to make the tough decisions day in and day out, it’s easy to start believing that you always have all the answers.
In a crisis, some leaders are slow to change course, or to try a different tack. It’s common for leaders to lose perspective and be reluctant to acknowledge when they’ve made a mistake; they don’t want to lose face or appear in the wrong. However, letting your ego out of the equation is critical when dealing with a setback or potential catastrophe. Leaders must show strength in adversity, but they also need to be able to step back from the situation, analyze what went wrong, take advice from trusted counselors, and have the humility to change course if necessary.
Communicate with transparency.
As soon as you anticipate a problem—be it a poor quarter of sales, new regulations that will affect your business, or a public relations crisis—tell your employees about it. Explain what you know and what you don’t, as well as what actions you’re taking to figure out next steps. Waiting to inform employees about a brewing concern, or only giving them part of the story can breed suspicion and worry. People are good at filling in the blanks when they believe their leaders are being less than honest with them. That can set the stage for more trouble as you try to tackle the situation.
It’s also important to watch your language when explaining an upcoming difficulty to your team. While some people may be more resilient that others, every employee will be listening for how you describe the challenge. Words carry weight, so use ones that are encouraging, yet honest. The key here is to have already worked out your organizational response to the issue at hand—that way, you can communicate the problem transparently while also assuring people that you have a strategy to deal with it. A vague “We’re looking into it” or “we’re working on it” will only leave people feeling helpless.
Show courage.
Set an example of courage by embracing the new challenge and getting to work right away to address the problem. It’s normal to feel wary of what’s coming, but once you start to move forward and strategize about what’s needed, your efforts will gain momentum and the team will follow your lead. Stepping out of your comfort zone is, at times, what leadership is all about. That said, you can feel quite vulnerable on these occasions and it’s not an easy thing to do.
People who are skilled at handling adversity can find the inner strength to take action, even when the way forward is less than clear. Often, solutions will begin to materialize as you move closer to an issue, so keep going forward at whatever pace is reasonable, with the persistence required.
Demonstrate caring.
Pay attention to your employees while you’re confronting challenges. While displaying courage and communicating openly will give them a degree of assurance, it’s important to know how they’re doing as the expected issue emerges and you move ahead with a resolution. Try not to let the adversity consume your time and energy unduly and tune in to what is happening with your staff.
Ask people how they’re coping and genuinely listen to what they say. Compassion and empathy go a long way toward helping people feel heard and respected. Plus, they’ll be more energized and ready to pull together with their colleagues and help you overcome the problem. In addition, showing that you care illustrates that you expect that same supportive attitude between team members.
Remain focused and disciplined.
Self-discipline is crucial to leading others through challenging times. Stay the course and keep focused on your response to the problem, relying on the expertise of those around you to assist you to reach your goal. Keep the big picture in mind while delegating responsibilities and tasks strategically. Be mindful that solving the difficulty isn’t all on your shoulders.
As leader, you have a responsibility to navigate the way forward, but you can only do that if you recognize and harness the expertise of your employees. Make things simple by clearly outlining roles and following the strategy that has been developed. Pace yourself and adapt to circumstances as they evolve.
In summary
By letting go of your ego, communicating transparently, being courageous, demonstrating empathy, and keeping your focus on solutions, you can weather almost any leadership challenge and steer your organization through adversity.