Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Crisis Leadership vs. Crisis Management.

Richard Moreau, Vice-President, Director Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness

Does your organization practice Crisis Leadership or Crisis Management? Understanding the difference between the two is essential for generating the organizational leadership environment required for success during an emergency and for the daily operation of any organization.

What kind of leadership prevails today in your organization?

Organizations with a strong leadership, risk taking and pre-established delegation of authority to the lowest level of the organization tend to adapt more quickly in the face of unforeseen events. Organization with pre-established procedures, processes, structures and plans combined with the right leadership culture fare better than those who entered the crisis with nothing in place or with leaders totally unfamiliar with the existing processes. Exercising the roles and responsibilities of the various groups contributing to their EP/EM and response plans are better equip to face the unknown than those who fail to do so.

For many organizations the change in operating environment from routine to crisis is extremely difficult to make. The fast tempo of operations and increased flow of information requires leaders to make decision more rapidly, assume greater risks all this based on incomplete and sometimes conflicting information. This obviously contrast with the slower pace of policy making, where time is on your side, risks are avoided by building consensus, conducting studies and where decisions tend to be taken by committees. Unless your organization’s leadership is adequately prepared to make the mind shift from routine to crisis mode your organization will face increase risks of failure.

No comments: