Blogs

Crisis Management: Weathering The Storm

"The best laid plans of mice and men...sometimes go awry.” This can often relate to the business environment. Of course, we can't expect to prevent crises from occurring; our only chance is to mitigate their impact with the correct strategies.


Anyone within a management position is already aware of the importance of such traits as honesty, confidence and an "outside-of-the-box" approach which can turn a crisis into a novel breakthrough. So, how can you begin to strengthen the cohesion within your team so that success is all but guaranteed?

The Captain of the Ship

A team which is confident in the leader's ability is a team that will act as a group rather than a number of individuals.

Recognising and acknowledging that learning from mistakes takes courage as sometimes ‘ability’ is confused with ‘superhuman’. Not getting it right all the time is normal, but the leader determines whether or not mistakes become valuable learning and help move performance to the next level. The leader’s attitude is critical. Stakeholders will look towards their leader for confidence and support in tough times and leaders need to be upbeat, while also realistic.

A United Front

Your team is only ever as strong as its weakest link. So, unity is critical during a crisis. This "cement" will serve to handle any misunderstandings, hold firmly to core working values and maintain a goal-oriented approach. These performance traits will make the difference between a failed project and a team that emerges as winners.

In the Trenches...

Leaders need to be at the front lines and to be in constant contact with all team members. Face-to-face gatherings, expressing opposing viewpoints and complete honesty are all part of this strategy. Encouraging open communication can help create a resilient team that will adopt a hands-on approach if and when a problem arises.
These are some of the best ways to help inspire your team while boosting confidence and tackling any challenges that may occur.

For more information on strengthening cohesion within your team, call us on +353 1 2066724 or E-mail: sheila.omahony@praesta.com