A year has passed since the COVID-19 pandemic, and our society, work style, and the economy of businesses have been profoundly affected by one of the greatest crises humanity has experienced in the modern era. For me, it hasn’t been any different from others, although I had the opportunity to launch several new startups despite the crisis, and the company I manage performed well relative to the market. However, every day, I had to implement crisis leadership tactics. I read a lot, listened a lot, and still walk through the streets with a lantern to learn how to help myself and my team navigate this crisis safely.
If I were to summarize my learnings, they can be distilled into these few principles:
- Transparency in communication with the team and other stakeholders.
- Acting with urgency, even when we didn’t have all the information to make decisions.
- Remaining committed to the company’s mission and values, even in the face of rapid changes.
- Distributing power among team members. Delegating authority during a crisis lifts pressure off the leader and allows team members to optimize their energy.
In this short video, Professor Edmondson, a leadership coach, explains these principles with practical examples. I hope that, at the end of this crisis, we will emerge stronger and more successful.