15 practical leadership ideas during troubling times

Christian Muntean March 30, 2020

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1. Take care of others.  There is a great deal of fear, anxiety and even anger going around. Find ways to stay human, to express concern, to reach out and show compassion.

2. Focus on what you can control.  Don’t waste valuable time and energy on issues that you can’t control or influence. Focus your time and energy on actions that will produce value for your customers, your organization and your family.

3. Lead don’t react.  Determine the future you intend to build and how you will take your people there. Work with your team to do this. Don’t be reactionary. Reactionary decision making is an abdication of leadership to outside forces and events. Be intentional. Lead your people.

4. Leaders shape the narrative.  The people you lead want to know what’s going on and how it will work out. It doesn’t matter if you believe this is overblown or the biggest health issue in modern history. Key points to the narrative:

• You care for your people: Let your people (employees, customers, suppliers, etc) know that you care about them and the specific steps you are taking to care about
• There is a reason for hope: Reinforce the image that together you will get to the other side of this. Explore creative solutions with them.
• We can be creative: I’m watching some leaders allow fear to shut down their natural creativity for problem-solving. Stay creative, include others in creating hopeful solutions.
• There is and will be enough: Identify the resources you can draw from and that your employees can draw from. Became a warehouse of solutions and options.

Leaders define the stories that people tell themselves. Leaders draw pictures of reality as it is and what it can be. Be intentional about the story you are telling.

5. Protect cash flow.  Cash is king. But you have to have it.

• Project what your cash needs will be over the next month or two.
• Follow up on receivables. If customers are struggling to pay, renegotiate terms. But get cash in the door.
• Follow up on invoices. Too many businesses get behind on invoicing. Get current. Get your cash pipeline flowing
• Renegotiate with suppliers. Most suppliers would rather alter the terms of your business than lose business. They need cash too – but see if they are able to flexible with payment terms.
• Reduce unnecessary expenses. Cut back on expenses but don’t try to eliminate expenses. The current crisis needs to be addressed, but so does the future. This crisis will pass. You need to be ready for what is next as well.

6. Identify new customer needs.  Talk to your customers. How is this crisis impacting them? What new needs are emerging as a result? 

Are there changes or new services or products that you can offer that are helpful at this time? Are there changes you could make in your terms that make it easier for them to continue to work with you?

7. Identify future customer needs.  It’s difficult to predict how this crisis will change the economic landscape over the next few months. But it’s likely to be challenging. 

Consider what the future looks like for your customers and how you can position yourself to serve them when you both get there.

8. Innovative solutions and partnerships.  Why can’t a restaurant convert servers into delivery drivers? Why not offer a new menu that is easy to prepare and deliver? Why not offer a temporary meal plan for delivery? 

If your business is slowing down, can you share employees with a business that is temporarily picking up? Why not build new virtual services or offerings?

Think outside of the box. Be creative. Be a solution finder.

9. Maximize virtual opportunities.  Most of my business is conducted face to face. But I’ve moved nearly all of it to virtual. In the next two weeks, I’ve moved coaching, group training, a speech and a workshop all to virtual methods of delivery. It’s simpler than ever to do this.

I’ve seen retailers open their version of QVC channels on Facebook live. I still can’t get my head around how successful some of them have been. All you need is an audience and something you can deliver, demonstrate or display virtually. 

Perhaps in your business you can’t deliver services virtually, but you might be able to find ways to do internal business virtually. Take advantage of them.

10. Find ways to support suppliers.  Take care of others. Many businesses are understandably cutting back on expenses. But we need to care for each other and our supply chains. Work something out with your suppliers so that you both can continue to move forward together.

11. Communicate:  Communicate encouragement, hope and solutions. Talk to your employees, customers, and suppliers.

In times of crisis, people want two things: Accurate information and empathy. Some people lean towards information. Others lean towards empathy. But give both.

Communicate frequently, repeatedly and openly. You aren’t likely to communicate too much, but it’s easy to communicate not enough.

12. Use this opportunity to lead a change.  If there is a change you’ve wanted to make in your business but you’ve been concerned about how people will react to “change,” then now may be a good time. 

People are expecting changes. This may be the time to implement your change, especially if it brings more value to your customers or employees.

13. Reach out to others.  Humans are social. Social isolation may be a helpful health strategy. But it will have its own consequences. The most vulnerable will especially struggle the most. 

Find or create safe and appropriate ways to reach out and connect. Let people know you are thinking of them, that you care. Find ways to meet the needs of others even outside of your business.

14. Use this time to work on the business.  If things are slowing down for you, then use this time to work on the business. Dig out those old plans and goal sheets. 

Identify one thing that you know will make a difference in your business that you just never seemed to have time to do. Now may be the perfect opportunity.

15. Take care of yourself.  Drink lots of water. Sleep. Continue to be grateful. Pray and meditate. Set and pursue goals. Call someone encouraging to you and talk to them. Remember to breathe and move your body. Limit exposure to the anxiety of others, especially news and social media.

Photo source: istock 

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Christian Muntean is a seasoned expert in fostering business growth and profitability. With a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership and certifications as a Master Coach, Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), and International Mergers & Acquisitions Expert (IM&A), he guides entrepreneurial leaders through growth, succession planning, and exit strategies. He is an accomplished author of three books, including Train to Lead. Christian resides in Anchorage, Alaska, with his family.  Learn More »

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