

Crisis leadership – seizing the golden hour!
Winning strategies for effective crisis management
A recent Netflix series documented Sir Winston Churchill, the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister who guided his nation through the global crisis of the Second World War. While controversial, his leadership brought many together in the fight against fascism and changed the world we live in today. What made him successful in the face of an overwhelming enemy and difficult geo-political terrain? The documentary did not provide enough detail in how Churchill organised himself to clearly state whether he was lucky or did he follow crisis management best practises to victory. What is clear, is that crisis defined his legacy as a leader. Today, crisis still defines how leaders and organisations are perceived.
If Covid taught us anything as a society, it is that crisis is inevitable, and it is highly likely we will not be offered the luxury of deciding when calamity strikes. After a 35+ year career in public and private sector roles, my current professional life has me focused on supporting organisations in preparing for and responding to crisis. The following keys to successful crisis management are a collection of what I have seen as best practises gleaned from working with my clients.