LCP LCP LCP
Skip to content

We are living through a case study of crisis management for leaders. The coronavirus may have limited or may have significant impact on your business, but in either case, it’s taking major mindshare for employees and creating anxiety in organizations around the globe.

Insight Experience teaches leaders how to communicate effectively. Normally we’re focused on accelerating business results or aligning complicated organizations or helping engage employees to deliver on a vision. We see and learn from the leaders we work with all year long about how challenging effective communication is even in the simplest of settings. An unprecedented, unknown concern like coronavirus makes communication that is heard and helpful even more difficult to achieve.

We are watching leaders struggle to set the right tone and to calm their own fears. We’re seeing leaders who are paralyzed in the face of the uncertainty and constant evolution of the facts and events. We’re seeing leaders who are saying nothing, which as we all know, is actually saying a lot (in the worst way) to their teams.

So what makes a good message in this environment? Every business is different, every team is different but these lessons might help. Think about your next email or the next time an employee asks a question and see if your response follows these guidelines based on our experience in calmer times.

What can leaders do?

  1. Focus on your values. Your highest priority is probably safety of employees, customers and community. Make sure to say that out loud and don’t assume that your team knows that is guiding your thinking.
  2. Reinforce facts. Be careful of amplifying the wide range of predictions; fake news; and unscientific perspectives available to all of us over the internet.  Repetition is the way that bad information gains credibility. Check your sources.
  3. Be prepared to shift course. Don’t lock in. Don’t overpromise. Coronavirus is a VUCA event, and in the face of ambiguity, your greatest asset is your ability to be agile and shift direction. We don’t know how this will play out, so don’t pretend you do. In particular, avoid setting expectations of when “things will get back to normal.” We just don’t know.
  4. Remind people about what they CAN do. For most of us, incessant hand-washing and general germ precautions are our best offense.
  5. Be open, interested and willing to listen. Some of what teams and employees need from a leader is an ear. As leaders we make assumptions about what people are thinking…and not always correctly. Listen for the questions and concerns behind the comments.
  6. Help employees look beyond today. The anxiety about coronavirus is immediate but this crisis will resolve over time. Help everyone keep the current situation in perspective. Optimism has a place even in a crisis.

Most importantly, communicate clearly, simply and often. Acknowledging your own uncertainty and concern can help others weather this storm.

Subscribe to Our Blog

Let's Talk

We'd love to hear about your leadership development goals.

Leave Comment

Recent Posts

Insight Experience Named to 2025 Inc. Regionals-featured-image
Insight Experience Named to 2025 Inc. Regionals
Click to view Insight Experience Named to 2025 Inc. Regionals

We’re proud to share that Insight Experience has been named to the 2025 Inc. Regionals: Northeast list,...

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post
Leadership Confidence: Women Deserve Better Than Imposter Syndrome-featured-image
Leadership Confidence: Women Deserve Better Than Imposter Syndrome
Click to view Leadership Confidence: Women Deserve Better Than Imposter Syndrome

Leadership development is about equipping people with the skills, mindset, and confidence to succeed. Yet,...

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post
The Strategic Leader's Guide to AI: Adoption & Governance-featured-image
The Strategic Leader's Guide to AI: Adoption & Governance
Click to view The Strategic Leader's Guide to AI: Adoption & Governance

In the first post of this series, "The Leadership Imperative: AI Literacy & Adoption," we explored Level 1,...

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post
The Leadership Imperative: AI Literacy & Adoption-featured-image
The Leadership Imperative: AI Literacy & Adoption
Click to view The Leadership Imperative: AI Literacy & Adoption

I recently attended a leadership development conference, and every session that mentioned AI was packed—often...

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post
Your Guide to Bringing Strategic Leadership to Life, Part 3-featured-image
Your Guide to Bringing Strategic Leadership to Life, Part 3
Click to view Your Guide to Bringing Strategic Leadership to Life, Part 3

At the close of a successful leadership development program, energy is high. The call to action was clear....

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post
Practical Tips for New Leaders: Working with Senior Leaders-featured-image
Practical Tips for New Leaders: Working with Senior Leaders
Click to view Practical Tips for New Leaders: Working with Senior Leaders

Note: This is the second post in the Practical Tips for New Leaders series. Head here for tips on running...

Category:-  Featured , Developing New Leaders

Learn More Click to view blog post
How Business Simulations Build Leadership Mindsets That Last-featured-image
How Business Simulations Build Leadership Mindsets That Last
Click to view How Business Simulations Build Leadership Mindsets That Last

As we wrap up the first month of 2025, it’s a good time to check in on our leadership mental models. In a...

Category:-  Featured , Business Simulation

Learn More Click to view blog post
5 Signs Your Organization Needs Strategy Execution Training-featured-image
5 Signs Your Organization Needs Strategy Execution Training
Click to view 5 Signs Your Organization Needs Strategy Execution Training

Every organization wants to operate at its peak, but even the best-run companies encounter challenges that...

Category:-  Featured , Executing Strategy

Learn More Click to view blog post
Top 10 Leadership Insights of the Year: Our Most-Read Blog Posts-featured-image
Top 10 Leadership Insights of the Year: Our Most-Read Blog Posts
Click to view Top 10 Leadership Insights of the Year: Our Most-Read Blog Posts

As the year comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the blog posts that captured the most attention and...

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post
Mastering Leadership Presence: Building Trust Through Authenticity-featured-image
Mastering Leadership Presence: Building Trust Through Authenticity
Click to view Mastering Leadership Presence: Building Trust Through Authenticity

Imagine you’re in the audience at an all-hands meeting. Your company has big news: an acquisition, a merger,...

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post