Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Leadership lessons from world events

Osama bin Laden’s death prompted reactions from political leaders around the world. In times of crisis, shock or celebration, people turn to leaders for emotional support. Therefore, it is important for leaders to understand what is expected of them from their followers and organization in order to appropriately respond.
Share the facts. After hearing any news, people begin researching and reading to learn the latest details. However, researching online can lead to unreliable sources and misunderstood information. It is the job of a leader to inform the audience of the true details. 
Express your emotion. People look to leaders to assess the gravity of the situation and provide emotional support. This doesn’t mean that you have to be emotionless for fear people will interpret you incorrectly. If it is a sad issue, show grief. If it is a celebration, show happiness. Share with your audience how you feel and they will appreciate your openness. 

Encourage community discussion. Schedule a discussion that allows people to share their reactions and thoughts on the situation in a pre-determined amount of time. In this brief session, answer questions, offer advice and guidance, and provide insight on how it will affect each individual’s role in the organization. 

Deliver next steps. Finally, it is important to share how you are handling the situation moving forward so your followers feel comfortable. If there are no next steps at the time, offer answers to any questions and hold yourself to a date when you will announce an update. 

How do you provide support to your followers during world events? How does your approach differ from announcing news regarding your organization? 

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