How to support others during a crisis

 

This article is written by Emily Blomme, CEO of Foundation 2 Crisis Services

When crisis strikes our community, it’s more important than ever to be a genuine, empathetic and focused leader – not only at your organization or business but wherever makes sense based on your expertise and knowledge. Responding can look different depending on the crisis (flood, pandemic, derecho, etc.) but there are a few things that I think are most important:

People First Attitude Supporting Employees as Humans

We know that often, a community-wide crisis impacts individual personal lives. Leaders must acknowledge the human impact first, which may require extra flexibility at work, personal space for processing and reflection, and ensuring employees feel seen and supported. Checking in regularly and creating safe spaces for dialogue and connections to resources can be transformational in decreasing the stress our people are experiencing.

Leading with Action Modeling the Response You Want to See

Leadership isn’t about words; it’s about setting the tone and encouraging action. It could be donating time or money or advocating for system-wide change. Leaders who jump in and help set an example and since people are always watching, it may inspire others to act! Modeling empathy, transparency, and adaptability can be instrumental in creating compassion and supporting resilience.

Present, yet Future-Focused Preparedness

We know that the impact of a crisis doesn’t end when the immediate event is over. Leadership is about being present and supportive now but also creating a long-term vision for recovery and resilience. Working to strengthen policies or practices, improved protocols following disaster, and proactive planning and communication can be critical down the road, but future planning can give those impacted by a crisis “things to do” and ways to feel invested and part of the solution to decrease impact in the future.

A combination of being present with your people with authentic and transparent interactions, leading by example to inspire others, and remaining focused on repair and planning are just a few ways you can leverage your leadership role to improve the lives of those in your community, now and in the future!