1. Showing Empathy

It is perhaps one of the most difficult things to do. Also one of the most important things in crisis management. The ability to recognize and understand what others are going through. This will allow you to connect with them on an emotional level will make you a true leader. Nick Van Dam mentions in the session that in times of a crisis people are worried about the health of themselves, their families. They also have concerns about what will happen to their job and financial status. It will help you to gain respect and trust in your employees. Also win their cooperation in times of crisis.

According to Prof. Nick Van Dam “A good leader should not only acknowledge his employees’ feelings. But also put yourself in his or her shoes. It’s not about playing down a situation”. It means being able to respond to what your people need. Rather than just telling them what you think they should do. The leader should also empathize with them by sharing similar feelings when appropriate. Your behavior must show that you genuinely care about your people. Also must share your concerns if you want them to share their own.

2. To be open, honest, and vulnerable

Leaders expectations during a crisis would be to be open, honest, and vulnerable in times of crisis are the most successful in helping their organization. Allowing them to overcome major obstacles. A study shows that during times of crisis, forthright leaders generate greater trust. This is among employees and across teams than leaders who withhold information or provide false reassurances.

Open

It allows employees to know what happened, what’s happening, and what will happen. They need as much information as possible as quickly as possible so they can take action. Whether it be that you need employers to start working from home. They then need the time to make arrangements for that. It also allows for you the owner to make arrangements. For example, do you have the right equipment to enable them to work from home. Being open with your employees allows for a transparent working environment.

Honest

Be honest about what is going wrong because employees need an explanation. Then allows for people to know what is happening, what will happen. Also find ways how to resolve the situation together, if necessary. Employees need to hear the truth from their leader as they are more involved in day-to-day operations than the leaders. They can sense problems before the leaders do. According to Nick Van Dam “leaders need to make 100% of the decisions. Where perhaps 30% of new information is coming in all the time”. This means as a leader you may not know all the answers. However, conveying that to your people and connecting with people allows you to be open with them. 

Vulnerable

You should never attempt to hide facts from your employees as it will create a lot of confusion. This then impacts their morale and productivity. As a leader, you cannot keep information from your employees. Then expect them to work towards a common goal when you know little about what is happening around you.

3. Communicating Frequently

It is important Leaders expectations during a crisis is to communicate frequently with their employees. Things are changing consistently in a crisis so having the courage to change course if need be is important. Employees must know what is going on at any given time. They should have information about how the company plans on handling these situations. Also what the company’s goals are for handling them. If there are any changes in these goals, then employees need to be notified as well. In the session with Prof. Nick Van Dam said: “it’s okay to over-communicate with employees”. Especially as people may be working from home. Checking in with people on a daily basis is great. Also making sure you are sharing updates with them. And clarifying people are more than welcome to ask questions about specific things.

Trying to control every event and situation is a fool’s errand; if you try to do so, you’ll spend all of your time spinning your wheels with no forward progress. Instead, the leader who can see the future as it is unfolding will make course adjustments. Allowing them to still reach their ultimate goal.

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4. Being Deliberately Calm

Leaders expectations during a crisis is to be a rock. A leader rarely has all the answers but in times of crisis. They try their best to come up with one while confidently guiding their team towards resolution. A crisis can create chaos in a workplace or environment. Having a leader take control of the situation, and show confidence that they will get through the hard times is very important.

As a leader, you must reassure your employees that you have everything under control. They know that panic and anxiety are contagious even more than joy and confidence are. So make sure not to accelerate the situation by spreading your negative emotions among their employees. You have to make sure that your employees are safe physically, and mentally and that everything is under control. 

5. Being Optimistic and Hopeful

In times of crisis, a Leaders expectations during a crisis can instil hope and confidence among their employees. This helps them carry on working more productively and efficiently. They do this by staying optimistic in their dealings with employees. Every employee would look up to their leader in terms of support and guidance. If the leader is not optimistic enough to motivate them further. Then he/she might lose confidence and get discouraged to continue further. So instead, leaders should build confidence in their team members. So that they do not feel left out and work together as a unit with a single goal.

Conclusion

It is important to recognize that leadership means taking the lead, and being a mentor. While working alongside your team in times of crisis. Knowing how to best communicate with your team will help you and your employees. To get through the difficult times and will assure that everyone’s doing okay. All the behaviors we have outlined are very important. They should all be implemented to enable you to build trust with your team members. That will help them through hard times.