LEADERSHIP IN TIMES OF CRISIS

Abstract

Leadership encircles the capability of an individual, group or organization to guide others (individuals, teams, or whole organizations). True leadership requires a personality that attracts other people, constant development of relationships with team members, possessing professional and practical knowledge and skills, experience, self-confidence, intuition and empathy. Strong leaders continuously empower other people, because they believe in their team members. Leadership skills are continuosly learned and improved not only during professional development, but throughout person’s life. Crises are inevitable events, that occur sooner or later in all the organizations. They can be triggered by different internal or external factors. Each crisis is specific and unique and requires different approaches for finding solutions. When a crisis occurs, ignoring or avoiding it, is one of the biggest mistakes for the organization. It should be accepted, resolved and used to initiate change, which is necessary for organzations’ survival and further development and growth. Having an organized, planned and structured approach to crisis management can help in damage reduction, restraing the company losses and discover inventive mechanisms to maintain the workforce’s productivity. Crisis leadership is a process that resolves the unforseeable events that happen unexpectedly and have the ability to diminish the organizational structure, to cease growth and development and lead to catastrophic outcomes. Whether the crisis will be successfully resolved, depends on how the leadership will deal with the situation. A positive approach to crisis is to accept it as an opportunity, to take responsibility, manifest confidence and implement changes which will streghtehen the organization and empower the employess to perform better and become stonger people in future. If leaders are bold and act, if they are decisive and willing to adapt their decision to the occurring conditions, they are going to have more success in resolving the crisis, compared to leaders that choose to wait and not take any action. Leadership is a vital process at all times, but when a crisis strikes, a strong leader has cardinal importance for the organization.