Crises? Give it a wink!

Have you noticed how the cry for 'HELP, we have a CRISES!' gradually transforms into an ordinary 'Hello, here is the new crisis to manage this week' in the tumultuous global landscape of this decade? Over the years, we've all faced a barrage of major crises, shaping an environment where adaptability, resilience, and, above all, empathy became crucial.

As an executive navigating various markets on a global scale, I've found myself at the forefront of managing an eclectic mix of challenges—from regulatory upheavals, and cyber incidents to terrorism, war, and natural disasters impacting our business and communities. The spectrum has been so vast that one might wonder how this stress hasn't taken its toll on me yet—well, it seems that, the sheer variety of business crises has been both a test and an enlightening journey for me. It's currently hard to fathom a situation that could still surprise me yet that tingling pressure in my chest hasn't diminished with time.

I once aspired to become immune to crises, to stop that surge of cortisol. I learned though that my effort was futile and that instead, I better welcome it as the very energy needed to shift from a fight-or-flight binary response to contained emotional waste and a rational understanding that, in the world of business, solutions can be found for almost everything.

Here are my hard earned learnings, please share yours:

1.    Do not act alone: In times of crises, the importance of a cohesive and capable task force cannot be overstated. Facing challenges alone or in a non-coordinated way is a recipe for disaster.

2.    Gain Perspective without Losing Focus on People's Safety/Well-being: Zooming out before taking action is crucial, helping grasp the context and interdependencies and contain the blinding emotional response. People should always be the absolute focus, allowing subsequent actions to be approached in a structured, rational manner.

3.    Communicate, Feel, Communicate: Whether having a seasoned communicator by your side or becoming one yourself, keeping key stakeholders informed is vital. Acknowledging and addressing the emotional flow overwhelming the organization and community is equally crucial.

4.    Allow Time to Learn Once the Crisis is under control: Post-mortem reflection, analyses, gathering insights, and updating business continuity and crises management policies/playbooks are essential for future events.

A debt of gratitude to Joanna Newark —my role model of empathetic communication and true self-mastery through significant crises. Her partnership has proven invaluable to my personal and professional journey. 'A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink.' Gina Carey