Prioritize Listening in a Crisis

Great leaders seek out—and act on—the counsel of others, especially in a crisis. You need a team of advisors that can offer as many perspectives on your situation as possible. To ensure you’re prepared ahead of the next crisis, ask yourself these three questions:

• Do I have access to diverse voices and sources of information? Use scenario-planning to determine whose knowledge or expertise you might need in various kinds of crises, and identify whether you currently have access to it.
• Do I routinely consider other team members’ ideas or feedback when making decisions? If not, start practicing seeking out expertise to fill your blind spots and inform your decisions. Effective crisis leaders are those who know when—and how—to defer to others.
• What systems or processes might I put into place to surface and capture others’ perspectives? Look at how communication is structured in your organization and whether there are barriers or silos that you need to proactively address.