Leading through a crisis requires more than just reactive decision-making—it demands a structured, adaptable framework that enables organizations to assess, align, and act in real time. In this Weekly Whiteboard, we break down the Leading through Crisis framework, a model developed to drive coordinated crisis response across multiple stakeholders, ensuring clarity, accountability, and rapid execution.
Using Boston's real-world response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tim Lynch outlines the key behaviors to lead through crisis:
- Establishing Priorities – Define eight core priorities, including public health response, economic stability, and operational continuity, ensures an organized approach to crisis management.
- Creating Simple Rules – Ensuring simplicity in decision-making cuts through ambiguity, enabling cross-functional collaboration and faster response times.
- Implementing 360-Degree Communication – Real-time insights from frontline personnel prevent blind spots and enhance situational awareness.
- Empowered Execution – Decentralized decision-making and rapid iteration drive effective crisis response and long-term resilience.
Whether leading in government, business, or nonprofit organizations, structured crisis management is critical to reducing uncertainty and maintaining operational effectiveness. By leveraging the Leading through Crisis framework, leaders can navigate complexity with confidence, ensuring coordinated action when it matters most.
Implementing the “Leading through Crisis” Framework
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