"Are You a CEO Interested in a Feature Interview?"
All Interviews are 100% FREE of Charge
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Harsh reality Only 21% Thirty percent of U.S. employees say they have a strong sense of confidence in their organization’s leadership. This figure is down from 24% in 2019, highlighting a growing crisis of trust that threatens to impede effective emergency management. This worrying trend, revealed in a recent Gallup report, highlights the need for strong, compassionate leadership in times of crisis.
Consider recent Hurricane Beryl, a devastating storm that demonstrated my company, BELFOR’s, response strategy and highlighted the impacts of extreme weather. My experience managing the impacts of natural disasters helped me refine strategies that apply to severe weather and workplace crises alike. Reflecting on the widespread impacts of Hurricane Beryl and my personal experience, I realized we needed to adapt and change our approach to help affected communities. By embracing agility, fostering open communication, and empowering our teams, we can not only recover from the crisis, but also strengthen ourselves and build a more resilient, connected workforce.
While not every business can withstand the wrath of a natural disaster (as we have seen, the impacts of natural disasters occur in different sectors), I believe that the lessons I learned in the field and the response strategies BELFOR has developed are universally applicable. These strategies prepare us to deal with a range of potential business disruptions and ensure that we can make fast and effective decisions under pressure – a vital skill in a changing business environment.
Below are some actionable takeaways focused on leadership agility, specifically crisis management. These insights are not just important for recovery, but also about fundamentally rethinking your strategy to adapt and be better prepared for future uncertainties, no matter what your role is.
Related: Why You Need to Embrace Uncertainty as an Entrepreneurial Leader (And How to Navigate It Effectively)
Emphasize active listening
In leadership, especially during a crisis, active listening is just as important as decision-making. The analogy of a pilot at 30,000 feet illustrates this well. The pilot-like leader has a clear view of the broad, overarching strategy, while the team on the ground manages the details. Bridging these perspectives through active listening brings clarity to decisions and encourages engagement. This has many benefits:
a Gallup Poll More engaged teams have been shown to drive better business outcomes, including higher productivity, profitability, and happiness. Leaders can practice this skill by regularly checking in with team members to ask about tasks and measure happiness. They should also check in with family and loved ones, ask about important milestones, and build genuine personal connections. Focusing on both work and personal feedback fosters trust and increases loyalty – two essential tools to drive teams forward.
Decentralize decision making
Letting your team make decisions empowers them and is essential in situations that require immediate action. This approach demonstrates trust in your team’s capabilities and understanding (which I think we can all agree is a great feeling). Consider Johnson & Johnson. Under the leadership of William Weldon, Johnson & Johnson Decentralized Corporate StructureThis was particularly beneficial in managing across different geographies and cultural contexts.
This structure allowed local managers, who have a deep understanding of the market and customer needs, to make decisions tailored to specific situations without waiting for approval from the headquarters in the U.S. Similarly, BELFOR’s global reach empowers leadership in its various office branches, knowing that if you hire the right team members, they will always deliver the right response, no matter what situation you face.
Related: 4 Reasons Distributed Business Management is Booming
Dive into the trenches
By going out into the field and facing the same challenges as your team, you can boost morale and build trust. This hands-on approach shows that you are keen to understand the inner workings and daily realities of your team’s tasks. In addition, your more approachable attitude can significantly reduce the barriers between leadership and staff. For example, when I was on the field, Undercover BossI changed my suit and tie for blue jeans and a sport coat. This dramatically changed the way I interacted. People began to approach me and share their honest feedback, providing me with valuable insights that were essential to improving my operations.
Expressing gratitude to the entire system
Recognize not only the hard work and dedication of your frontline team members, but also the invaluable support they provide at home. Recognizing the joint efforts of both employees and their families strengthens a supportive work environment and boosts overall morale, according to Gallup analysis. One in three workers 100% of U.S. employees strongly agree that they have been recognized or praised for a job well done in the past week. Small acts like sending thank-you notes, hosting appreciation events, or publicly acknowledging efforts during meetings can make a big difference in increasing employee engagement and satisfaction.
After a crisis, hold a group debriefing to reflect on the experience. Facilitate an open discussion about which strategies were successful and which areas need to be adjusted for future responses. This analysis and practice of learning from failure transforms challenges into opportunities for valuable lessons. By fostering a culture that sees failure as an opportunity to grow, leaders can not only improve their team’s performance but also make them more resilient and prepared for future challenges. This approach leverages experiences, good and bad, as a positive force for continuous improvement and innovation. For example, studies have shown that Reporting sessions at medical facilitiesTeams such as emergency departments can learn and manage patient care more safely and quickly, improving overall team performance and patient outcomes.
Related: How to lead and manage your team in times of crisis
The responsibilities of a disaster recovery team leader include overseeing the allocation of resources and supplies to ensure an efficient recovery process. BELFOR’s team of disaster recovery industry experts thrives by mastering the complex dynamics of crisis management skills. We constantly overcome disaster recovery challenges by adapting to new trends while adhering to our core goal of helping those in need with compassion and expertise. This approach not only helps us tackle the challenges of today, but also prepares us for whatever happens tomorrow.
Our combination of innovative strategies, agile decision-making, and core leadership values ​​builds a resilient foundation that enables us to deliver outstanding results even in high-stress scenarios.