5 things to not do during a crisis

Joseph Lalonde May 31, 2020

my saved content

VIEW AS
A PDF

Too many leaders lead poorly through a crisis. Many through no fault of their own. It’s that they’ve never been taught how to lead during a trying time.

These leaders stumble and falter. They do their best but they can’t seem to get their team through.

Unfortunately, old leadership methods don’t work during crises.

5 things to not do during a crisis

So, what are those things leaders do wrong during a crisis? I’ve come to the conclusion there are 5 things leaders need to not do. They are:

1. PANIC

Panic is the first thing someone wants to do when there’s a crisis. The world is falling apart and it is never going to be the same again. So we panic!

Panic doesn’t help anyone. In fact, panic hurts you, your team, and your organization.

Panic creates chaos. Chaos is not what we need during a crisis.

Instead, recognize there is a crisis. Process the crisis. Then work on a solution to calmly resolve it.

2. Do nothing

This one is a bit of a tongue twister but leaders cannot do nothingwhen a crisis strikes.

Leaders are a special breed. They go into action when a crisis strikes. They begin to look for solutions and then work on those solutions.

Doing the wrong thing during a crisis can damage your reputation, your organization, and your people

Instead of freezing when a crisis hits, find the next action step to take. Then take it.

3. Be unemotional

I’m not conflicting with the first item I shared. Being emotional is different from panicking.

Everyone will have an emotional response to a crisis. They will feel highs and lows. They will feel confused and disoriented (by the way, what day is it today?)

Emotions aren’t bad for a leader to display. Uncontrolled emotions, yes. But relating to your team by sharing how you feel will help your team realize they are not in this alone. The ones leading them have an emotional reaction to the crisis as well.

Be emotional. Show your team the crisis hurts and impacts you as well.

4. Stop communicating

One of the worst things you can do to your team is to stop communicating during a crisis. The Coronavirus crisis has shown the world businesses can grind to a halt. It also shows there can be massive disruptions to your team and working environment.

Your team may have to work from home or in isolated areas. But leaders cannot stop communicating during a crisis. Your people need to hear from you.

Text messages can let your team know you’re thinking of them. Zoom chats can help you see one another while you meet about an important topic. Or, there’s always the trusty telephone call.

Make sure you’re communicating with your team during a crisis. Communicate what the business is doing. Communicate you care about their situation. Communicate you are there for them.

5. Stop developing other leaders

During a crisis, you may not interact with your team members on a day-to-day basis. In this time, it is easy to forget about the development paths your team members have been on. Or you may think they have it handled.

You don’t… so why would they?

You need to find a way to help your team members continue growing. There are many ways you can do this. You can:

• Find out their address and mail them a book you think may benefit them
• Open a LinkedIn Learning account so they can continue to learn from other experts
• Discover a YouTube video that is pertinent to their role
• Share a great blog or podcast with your team

Developing other leaders is a never-ending process. It doesn’t end when a crisis hits. Keep developing those leaders!

my saved content

VIEW AS
A PDF

Joseph Lalonde is an award-winning leadership blogger and hosted the Answers From Leadership podcast. He desires to see 20-somethings step into their God-ordained roles as leaders. Previously, on the E3 staff and currently serving in the Catalyst youth ministry of Gateway Church, Joseph has mentored many students and has seen their lives changed through this teaching. His mission is to help equip leaders with the knowledge and information to boost their leadership to the next level. This article was first published on JMLalonde.com. Used with permission Learn More »

• Between headlines and hope (by )
• How to walk with grieving friends: what I’ve learned through personal loss (by Tom Crenshaw)
• The power of showing up: embracing God’s presence in every moment (by Christopher Beth)
• Is this what God is up to in your life? (by Carey Nieuwhof)

Free eBook

Steps to Launching Your Personal Workplace Ministry

Have you ever felt the pull to full-time ministry work as a missionary or pastor? If not, you can still make a Kingdom impact without quitting your current job. In this eBook, you will learn the four essentials that can change your perspective of work, your workplace, and most importantly, your heart.

Download Now