The Scottish Social Services Council has published a new resource on “Leading in a Crisis”. The resource pulls together information from a wide range of sources, helps to build a picture of what works and what does not in a time of crises.
The positive aspects of leading in a crisis are commonly noted as being:
- Making sense of what has happened/is happening
- Credible, appropriate, and consistent communication
- What the organisation is going to do about it (the crisis)
- Be present
- Honesty
- Give hope
- Have empathy
- Plan for the future
Of these, honesty and consistency in communication appear most often in the literature/sources. In addition to this, being visible/present rates highly.
These are in addition to the Six Leadership capabilities promoted in Scotland’s social services, the day to day skills if you wish:
- Vision
- Motivating and inspiring
- Collaborating and influencing
- Empowering
- Self-leadership
- Creativity and innovation
The McKinsey Company diagram on the development and role of Network Teams is of interest, in that it illustrates an organisational approach to leadership in a crisis. This approach is useful in that it gives a degree of comfort that leaders have the support of the executive team within the organisation. It can also, at a local level, act as an aide-memoire and/or risk assessment in a time of crisis.
Overall, the resource is easy to read and navigate, with useful links to more detailed information.
- https://learn.sssc.uk.com/coronavirus/leadinginacrisis/#:~:text=A%20leader%20relies%20on%20those,sensitive%20one%20which%20re
- https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/leadership-in-a-crisis-responding-to-the-coronavirus-outbreak-and-future-challenges
- https://collectiveleadershipscotland.com/2020/07/01/life-affirming-leadership-developing-the-skills-of-insight-and-compassion/
- https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/how-to-lead-through-a-crisis/
- https://www.stepintoleadership.info/
- http://23leadership.sssc.uk.com/