In times of crisis, your company's stakeholders and customers will turn to you for resolution and support. Crisis management is not just about damage control but also keeping the company members confident and composed. As a leader, how you handle a crisis tells a lot about your leadership skills and can eventually make or break your firm's success. 

Here's how you can handle crisis as a company leader efficiently: 

1. Understanding the Crisis

Gather all information necessary and assess how it will potentially impact your organization. Do not simply rely on social media or news outlets as most of them have some kind of political or financial agenda behind it. Do not sweep the issue under the rug, even though you think it isn't a big issue. A good leader will de-escalate an issue and stay transparent with their stakeholders. 

2. Clear and Transparent Communication

As a leader, your words and actions set the tone for your organization's response. Communicate clearly, transparently, and consistently with all stakeholders, including employees, customers, and investors. Your employees may feel lost, so make sure you have a vision that keeps them grounded. Gather your crisis management team and give them autonomy over finding creative, unconventional solutions. 

3. Decisive Action and Flexibility

Indecision can be as harmful as the wrong decision. Organize your thoughts and create a priority list. Make sure your team is onboard with your decisions because a united front shows a strong leader and company values. Then, give your crisis-management team complete autonomy over the situation and you direct your attention towards low-impact decisions. 

4. Empathy and Team Support

Showing genuine concern for the well-being of your team and providing support can foster a positive and resilient work environment.  To build an empathetic and understanding work environment during a crisis, you should: 

  • Thank your employees for supporting the company and continuing to work 
  • Schedule informal check-ins with team managers and make sure they pass on your words of motivation to their team
  • Create a positive and uplifting environment that's conducive for growth. It could be as simple as ordering breakfast and coffee for everyone to planning evening hangouts after office

5. Learning from the Crisis

Perform a post-crisis analysis to understand what worked, what didn't, and how to better prepare for future challenges. Make sure to gradually implement changes to strengthen your organization's resilience.  

Crisis management is an integral part of leadership. As a leader if you feel you and the crisis management team isn't prepared enough to handle a situation, reach out to Bulletproof Media Training. They are a team of award-winning PR professionals and offer a 1-day on-demand media training program that can be customized for handling crises.