Leadership Communication Through a Crisis

With any situation that is constantly evolving, communication is critical. It’s not just about having your team understand you. It’s about creating engagement and buy-in at your organization during a challenging and uncertain time. Two of the leading drivers of employee engagement are confidence in leadership and confidence in the future success of your organization. These are largely communication issues.

So how can you be an effective communicator right now? First, check in more often with your team. I recently wrote about Keith Sampson, national sales director at North American Bancard, who has been doing a phenomenal job during this crisis. He is communicating with his team almost daily through a private Facebook page, and he’s made himself available for individual team members whenever they need it. Other leaders I know have increased the frequency of their one-on-one check ins with team members, something I wholeheartedly recommend.

But the other part of communicating effectively right now is demonstrating courage. Trust is never more important than in a crisis. Be clear about where things stand and don’t be afraid to show vulnerability, which, according to Brené Brown, is “the birthplace of courage.” Courage can be defined as the quality of mind that enables one to face danger with confidence, resolution and firm control of oneself.

Courage doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid. It is the ability to do what needs to be done, regardless of the risk. Integrity means doing the right thing. Right now, that is precisely the kind of leadership and leadership communication that inspires confidence, loyalty and commitment.

Worth considering as you decide what to say.

[kingdomkom]

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