Part 1: Communication
Leaders are the focal point for their organizations and/or teams in times of uncertainty and crisis. In unprecedented times like these it is important to have established relationships with those you lead. However, even without the luxury of a foundation of trust, there are critical actions for great leadership in crisis. The first is Communication.
Communication
Communicate regularly
- Connect routinely with your team
- Don’t wait for the perfect message or response
Communicate clearly
- Avoid confusing messages
- Speak or write plainly
- When new information is obtained, use active voice to clearly distinguish from earlier messages
- Use video, if possible, so facial expression can be read
Communicate Authentically
- Don’t stop being you
- Tone matters
- Be honest if you don’t have all of the information
Communicate Advocacy
- Demonstrate care for your team
- Consider their priorities (most likely work will not be as high as pre-crisis)
Communicate Purpose or Mission
- Center your team
- Remind them of their purpose and importance
- Be flexible and creative
A leader’s most valuable tool is their ability to communicate. This is even more important in crisis and can be more complex for those not used to leading remote teams. Self-assess your communication against the above with the goal being to streamline and simplify your messaging.