Leading in Adversity

Much is written about heroic leaders who save companies from oblivion and military leaders who deliver battlefield success. So, in such dire and pressing times what exactly is it that these people do? Here we look at some of the mainstays of successful leadership during adversity.

Stay Focused On the Main Task

If a company is losing customers then it’s losing revenue and ultimately will go to the wall. Blatantly obvious when put that starkly, but foreseeing downturns may not always be that straightforward in large organizations, which is why it can appear that companies go bust ‘all of a sudden’. Once the smart business leader recognizes that they are heading towards oblivion they can do one of two things. They can jump ship before it’s too late or confront the problem head-on. Those that choose to stay will focus on nothing but curing the problem at its root and all they do will have that in mind and nothing else; in our simplistic example, bringing back previous customers and getting new ones.

Ignore What isn’t Important

With focus solely on the main problem area and so much time and effort from the leader and key individuals it’s not unsurprising that less critical areas get left. Are they ignored though? Well, from the leader’s perspective they absolutely have to be. Non-key areas need to get cut quickly and that can include whole groups and employees no matter how painful that might be. It also means non-critical functions get ignored, but are trusted to others to keep ticking along.

Galvanize Support

One individual knowing that the situation is perilous and certain actions need to take place is not enough. The leader needs to garner support in all the right areas for his/her actions to be accepted and acted upon. The leader will often work very closely with a relatively small number of trusted senior colleagues not only to get work undertaken but to take soundings as time progresses. External support too is equally important especially for quoted companies as perceptions on how serious a leader is about fixing things can carry more weight than reality.

Communicate With Absolute Clarity

Keeping the core messages clear, understandable and consistent is what all good leaders do under stressful organizational situations. Whether they are dealing with colleagues, other companies, the markets or the press, staying on message is essential. So what should the message be? The honest truth is the only way forward and if it means really tough times ahead then say so. Trying to cover up or sugar coat the truth isn’t really an option given the ease with which people can use all forms of communications technology and social media.

React To Circumstances

In anything but a very short-term problem resolution situation the leader needs to be acutely aware of the environment in which his/her business is operating. Yes, they ought to be doing this at all times but when their business is trying to get back to something resembling normality they need to be looking for opportunities that allow them to accelerate the rescue. It could be selling off non-core businesses or gaining positive press coverage that boosts credibility with customers. All this requires the leader to stay alert and willing to make extremely quick, and at times, difficult decisions.

Copyright © 2010 Paul Slater