Leading Through Crisis: How to Stay Calm and in Control

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If there’s anything the past few years have reminded us of, it’s that times of trial and tribulation place heavy demand on leaders. True leadership demands calm and composure during difficult periods, and with the right skillset under their belt, experienced leaders can help guide their teams forward when it matters most.

At Pivot HR, we know that making the right call during challenging times can often feel overwhelming, especially for those that are new to positions of heightened authority and executive leadership. Leadership coaching is a great way to equip your management with the tools to succeed when it matters most. Below, we’ll cover some of the most important attributes to keep in mind/demonstrate when handling crises in the workplace. Read on to learn more!

Look for Opportunities

When things get difficult, it’s easy to become fixated on the challenge, as well as the negative implications ahead. While it’s certainly important to be vigilant and aware of any fallout that could occur from an incident or circumstance, it’s just as important (if not more so) to look for the positive outcomes you can achieve along the way. Strong leaders know that there is just as much opportunity as there is a challenge in any adverse scenario, and are able to help their team focus on achievable goals rather than get sidetracked by negativity.

Flexibility

Flexibility and adaptability are essential qualities for leadership at all times, but they become particularly vital attributes in times of crisis. As the Covid era has reminded us, there are often times when things don’t go our way, and having the fortitude, as well as the aptitude to pivot as needed with grace is crucial when it comes to overcoming adversity.

Pace Yourself

Crisis and challenging times are exhausting. As any weathered leader will tell you, if you neglect to exercise kindness towards yourself (as well as your team) when times get tough, burnout isn’t far around the corner. Remember that very few issues can be resolved in the blink of an eye; pace yourself accordingly and build in opportunities to spend time doing whatever it is that helps you stay most centred. From restoring work-life balance to working out, speaking with career or personal counsellors, and even taking advantage of your hard-earned vacation time, the best leaders know that caring for themselves is non-negotiable and set the tone for the rest of their team members to follow suit when it comes to health and wellness.

Delegate

Don’t be a “saviour”! One of the hardest elements of being a leader can be knowing when to let go and pass off responsibilities to others. The best leaders know that no one is an island, and when it comes to navigating turbulence, you must rely on your team to survive. Take advantage of the skills and expertise that your peers and employees bring to the equation and empower everyone to rise to the occasion as a cohesive unit instead of feeling like you have to carry the weight of the storm by yourself.

Patience

Finally, the key to perseverance during times of crisis often ends up being one “simple” practice: patience. Even though it can be incredibly difficult, if not disparaging at times to face challenge after challenge and deal with change after change, if you want to lead with strength, patience is your friend. Having a clear vision of your goals, how your team can work together, and what you believe the future can hold makes it easier to face the unknown and to remember that eventually, one way or another, this, too, shall pass.

Need Help Building a Solid Foundation?

If you’re looking to navigate the aftermath of a previously difficult period, need help dealing with current struggles, or want to make sure you’re protected in the long term, Pivot HR is here to help. Our leadership coaching services are tailored to each client to ensure your team of managers and executives have the tools they need to help everyone succeed. With decades of experience behind our team, we believe that every business and organization deserves guidance and support when navigating trying times.

Don’t miss your opportunity to build a better foundation for today and tomorrow with the help of our leadership coaching and a full range of HR services available for clients in British Columbia as well as Canada-wide. Contact our team today to learn how we can help you reset and renew your leadership skills!

What Our Clients say about us

“Robin and Mia were both exceptionally professional and responsive and understood our needs. Their work was of great quality. We are a small non-profit organization and we found them very easy and wonderful to work with. Great value and highly recommend.”

~ Joy Masuhara , Co-Chair Women Transforming Cities International Society

“Cindy is a remarkable professional coach, who goes well beyond expectations in supporting her clients’ development. She knows how to ask the right questions and uncover the real and deep issues that contribute to the limitations we put on ourselves. This type of personal exploration is tough work to do alone and remain committed to necessary change. Cindy’s approach and support made this process one of the most impactful experiences of my life, professionally and personally.”

~ Monique Cotton, Firm Administrator, JFK Law Corporation

“As a medium size business with over 100 employees working in very different areas of our operation, Pivot was able to quickly understand our HR needs and offer practical solutions. Robin and the Pivot team worked closely with our Leadership group to implement effective turnkey solutions on time and on budget. We will continue to use Pivot for our ongoing HR needs and would highly recommend their services.”

~ Adam Zubek, General Manager, Point Grey Golf & Country Club

Pivot HR Services provides personalized solutions for our organization’s human resources needs. By engaging their services, we have been able to successfully outsource our HR function, as the Pivot team has demonstrated their ability to understand the HR priorities of our workplace culture and industry.

~ Areef Abraham, Chief Executive Officer Community Power

“Robin developed our employee policy manual with the goal of engaging and retaining our current staff as well as attracting new ones in this highly competitive marketplace. Her in depth knowledge of current legislation and HR policies proved to be of significant benefit. I would highly recommend Robin and the team at Pivot HR Services.”

~ Christopher Soles, President, Nextgen Technologies Ltd.

“Robin has been and continues to be an outstanding resource for our organization to navigate HR issues as we grow. She always approaches problems with professionalism and a keen eye for our best interest. I’d certainly recommend Robin to anyone looking to elevate their HR processes.”

~ Karim Abraham, CEO, Kambo Energy Solutions

“Our firm turned to Robin for advice and guidance at a time when we faced a period of serious difficulty in managing our human resources. She assisted us through the process of putting our relationship with our staff on a stronger, more stable footing and helped us implement a complete overhaul of our human resources policies. We could not be more pleased with the work she has done and continues to do with us.”

~ Robert Janes, QC, Managing Principal JFK Law Corporation

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