Leadership in a crisis: how to rebuild your team

Ever since the coronavirus pandemic, every company has been aware of how quickly times can change. Sometimes challenging phases are foreseeable, in other cases they come overnight and put leadership skills to the test. Leadership in times of crisis: in this article, we have summarized what is important now and which leadership tools can help you at this point.

Effective leadership in times of crisis: What matters now

Crises are an unavoidable part of our lives - both in our private and professional lives. In the midst of the fast-paced business world, a competitor is suddenly hyped, economic conditions change or growing personnel problems make daily work more difficult. Leadership in a crisis: now it's your leadership skills that count.

After all, a crisis also means that familiar things no longer work and new solutions have to be developed, often under great time pressure. The pressure to act increases the workload, leading to setbacks and demotivation. In the midst of this challenge, you are the one who continues to keep a firm grip on the helm and guide your team safely through the storm.

These tools will help you manage the crisis

• Promoting self-efficacy
  In times of crisis, a feeling of powerlessness often sets in. Individuals see themselves as mere spectators of a movie in which they cannot actively intervene. Self-efficacy is a key factor in crisis management. By focusing on previous successes and creating an awareness of the potential that lies within each individual, you can actively promote self-efficacy. Encourage belief in the abilities of each individual and recognize their achievements.
  
• Developing resilience
  While some people are naturally resilient and have good stress management skills, others find it difficult to keep a cool head in times of crisis. Resilience can be learned. For example, you can build up your team with targeted coaching and seminars and develop the resilience of individuals in a targeted manner.
  
• Transparent communication
  In times of crisis, the rumor mill boils even faster. Now is the time to show transparency and inform the immediate team about important developments in real time.
  
• Show empathy
  Empathy is not only important in times of crisis, it is one of the basic human needs. However, leadership in a crisis means developing this ability in a targeted manner. Every professional crisis also has an impact on private life. Employees take their worries and hardships home with them, the family situation is strained and even more pressure is created. Every crisis affects people on different levels. This makes it all the more important to show understanding and take appropriate measures to provide support .
  
• Showing prospects
  People perform better when they know what the future holds. In every crisis, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, however small it may seem. It's not about being unrealistically optimistic, but about highlighting positive developments and identifying opportunities . Even the smallest successes should be celebrated in times of crisis.

Ultimately, leadership in a crisis also means managers taking care of themselves and staying physically and emotionally strong. Lots of sport and healthy eating are just as much a part of the self-care program as consciously taking time out. 

Our trainers will be happy to support you in achieving your personal leadership goals in an executive coaching session.