In times of crisis, people often feel significantly more
vulnerable. The uncertainty and the concern about what the future
might bring or how change will impact them, can cause worry,
anxiety and make people feel helpless for potentially not having
sufficient resources to face what might come next. For leaders,
there is a sense of risk, that addressing vulnerability and
concern, is expressing weakness at a time when they need or want to
show strength.
This article highlights the challenges and pressures that managers
and leaders face in times of national or global crisis and having
to balance acting both as a figure of strength and stability for
their teams, while simultaneously expressing shared concern and
empathy with them.
The benefit of taking a pro-active approach is that by working
together and talking, especially in uncertain and challenging
times, when leaders and teams tackle a problem together, the result
may be to make everyone feel stronger.
When managers describe their challenges, whether mental-health-related or not, it makes them appear human, relatable, and brave
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.