A poorly managed crisis can become a major problem for your company. However, knowing how to handle these types of situations will make him an indisputable leader before his peers.
A crisis causes exacerbated emotions ranging from excitement to fear. And it is known that in an emotional situation, people become more sensitive.
Therefore, their behavior during the crisis will influence more than usual on others. The best thing would be for the team to come out strengthened from the experience and that will serve it in future situations.
The crisis mentality is usually characterized because the group has the feeling that they have no choice but to join and that enhances their sense of identity.
Often the crisis brings out hidden talents of a person who, from that moment, is better valued by the other team members.
A crisis is the ideal time to show the rest of the group hidden talents.
The traditional roles of the team are broken in situations of extreme tension and the functions of each one are relaxed.
So, if someone is determined to do a job that they do not usually do, give them a chance because they will surely be surprised.
The seven rules of communication with the team during a crisis situation
1- Keep the entire team informed: do not stop communicating any relevant data during the crisis. Don't wait until the evaluation meeting the next day to explain. Lack of knowledge and lack of information would lead the team to make mistakes during the resolution of the crisis.
2- Gather the team when you have to give instructions or communicate important information: The only way to know that everyone knows the same thing and works according to the same guidelines is to gather the team to give them instructions.
3- Encourage the team to ask questions: we know that you will be wanting to give the instructions as quickly as possible and that everyone gets down to work. But if you don't let anyone ask questions, in a meeting or later, someone might confuse the facts, misjudge priorities, or misunderstand your instructions. Don't forget that some team members would be panicking and that doesn't help them think clearly.
If you don't allow them to ask questions to avoid wasting time, you're asking them to face a crisis with the wrong information or the wrong approach.
Maintain a calm tone. When speaking to your team, watch your tone of voice. Even if you are scared or stressed, your job is to prevent panic.
Take care that your voice is not alarming and show them that you are calm so that they are too.
4- Involve the team in making important decisions: this is the ideal approach because it gets people to commit to the decision and do everything they can to make it work. Obviously, in the midst of a crisis, you cannot waste time organizing surveys and debates to discuss the best solution to the problem. But try to involve the team as much as possible.
5- Always be close: if the crisis is one of those that saddens or emotionally conditions the team, the employees will probably need to talk to you. They may be sad, frustrated, and feel that they cannot communicate with you because you are too busy to serve them. So find time to listen to them.
6- Show your team that you are on their side: make sure that your people know that your well-being is a priority for you.
7- Never lose your sense of humor: laughter is the best way to reduce stress. If he joins the jokes or starts them, the team will consider him a fun person.
