Managing a crisis within a company requires highly qualified professionals. In other articles we’ve talked about the differences between a mere manager or boss and what we might call a leader, and, above all, we’ve talked about the mistakes a good leader should avoid.
Here’s a summary of the points covered at a conference where Ken Blank gave his view on the three main traits, or qualities a good leader must have, to manage a crisis properly within a company.
1. A good leader must have hope
When everything is going well on its own, you don’t need many qualities. But in times of crisis, a leader must not only have hope but also know how to pass it on to the team and keep spirits up at all times. They must know how to motivate their workers and convey that, even though the situation looks difficult, with hard work and know-how (“doing things right”) the company will pull through and reach its goals. If a good leader has confidence in themselves, they will pass that confidence on to the rest of the team.
2. Turn your staff into partners in the company
This point is nothing new, but it’s probably the hardest part for a manager to accept. The Middle Ages are over. Today there are no “commoners” and “king”, just a group of people rowing in the same direction.
A good leader must make workers feel that they’re part of a project, part of the company, not mere employees. Making them feel like partners in your business isn’t complicated if you know how to handle the situation properly. In times of crisis, reward your most productive workers and come up with new commission schemes; that way you’ll get more effort from your staff. But above all, make them feel they’re part of a project with a future.
3. Practise servant leadership
This point comes from an old idea: the more we give to others, the more we receive. So if a leader is willing to help their team, they’ll receive the unconditional support of their staff. There’s little more to say about this point, since it won’t just make us greater leaders but better people too, if we apply it to every area of life.
And remember: although these are tips for a company in times of recession, you should never forget them even when better times come, because they will always mark the difference between just another manager and a good leader.
Further reading
- Common leadership mistakes
- Steve Jobs’ early days: a success story (a must-read)
- Business strategies for times of crisis
- To succeed, we must learn to take criticism
Featured image: unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
