“The only thing certain in life is death and taxes.”
Ben Franklin is credited with making this terse statement, and most leaders understand few things in life are assured. Many of life’s uncertainties are merely bumps on the road, but sometimes a church or organization experiences a cataclysmic event. Leaders must be able to navigate through these moments of crisis.
Dr. Reggie Ogea suggested it is important to distinguish whether an event is a critical incident or a crisis. He defines a critical incident as a dramatic, destabilizing development that presents apparent danger and uncertainty. A crisis, however, is different; it does not precede the critical incident but is defined as a “response condition.” According to Ogea, crises catch us off-balance, and our usual coping mechanisms are perceived as inadequate.
In these moments, leaders experience a high level of distress that often impairs their normal ability to lead. Crises differ from critical incidents in that they threaten the stability of the organization and must be addressed with urgency. What makes leading through a crisis more difficult is the ambiguity that often accompanies crisis. A crisis event may be hard to define. People in the organization are often confused or overwhelmed, and leaders are stressed and emotional. But amid it all, leaders find opportunities for growth.
The Chinese character for crisis or danger also contains the character for opportunity. Technically, the character for opportunity might be better defined as a “crucial point during which things can change.” To turn crises into opportunities, leaders navigate between doing the right things and doing things right.
Ogea notes it is more important for the leader to help people discover the transforming potential in their suffering during a crisis rather than merely leading them in ways to alleviate their pain and discomfort. To lead effectively during times of crisis, remember the following suggestions.
1. Get past the shock and denial. Face the facts. When leaders press through their initial reactions and see a crisis as an opportunity for growth, they will lead others to do the same. View a crisis as an opportunity to prepare, not despair.
2. Accept responsibility for the response. Although leaders cannot always prevent a crisis, they can always decide how to respond. Life will be different, but opportunities will be present.
3. Show caring concern. Demonstrate a heart for the people you lead. This concern for people must be shown before a crisis hits. Remember, what you do before a crisis often determines what will happen after a crisis is over.
4. Act quickly and decisively. People look to leaders to lead. Believe in your vision and why God has placed you there. Serve where God has placed you and prepare yourself and your leaders in crisis management beforehand. By doing this, you will weather the storm more effectively.
5. Be present and rally response. Trust the leaders God has placed around you and give them opportunities to lead alongside you before the crisis happens. Prepare your leaders by letting them lead with you now.
6. Communicate effectively and continuously. Resist the urge to communicate only when there is new information to share. Engage your people with words of affirmation, hope, and vision to calm and reassure them and help them trust your leadership through the crisis.
7. Lead as an instrument of God to restore sanity and order. Commit yourself to be an ethical leader and lead with integrity. If a leader displays personal integrity and a Christ-like spirit during a crisis, its effects are contagious.
Finally, a leader must prioritize two essential things. Seek to build a biblical culture beforehand. A church or organization steeped in the Word of God will be better equipped to view the crisis through a scriptural lens and respond in a manner that pleases and glorifies God. Remember the words of Psalm 119:165: “Great peace have they which love thy law.”
Remember self-care is also important. A leader who has not prioritized his spiritual, mental, and physical health will soon be of little use to those who depend on his leadership through crisis. Jesus encouraged His disciples to “Come apart and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31). Vance Havner once said, “If you don’t come apart and rest awhile, you’ll come apart.”
About the Writer: Todd Parrish is vice president for institutional
advancement at Welch College. Learn more: welch.edu.
