11 Keys To Successfully Leading Through Crisis Situations

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Are you facing a time of crisis in the life of your church, business, non-profit, or athletic organization?  Often it is not a question of if but when.  This is because if you have been in leadership any length of time, you have encountered times of uncertainty and concern.  It is during these times of crisis in which quality leadership steps to the forefront and produces the results needed for success.

On Sunday, May 10th with 1.5 seconds remaining in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James elevated and hit a 21-foot game-winning jump shot to tie the series 2-games-to-2.  The Cavs have since won the final two games taking the series.

In a May 11th USA TODAY article, writer Jeff Zillgitt broke down the events leading to the last second shot.  As I read his column I gleaned 11 Keys To Successfully Leading Through Crisis Situations:

1. In Crisis Everything Is Seemingly Against You – It is called “crisis” for a reason.  The Cavaliers were on the Bulls home court.  More than 1/3 of their team were injured in some form or fashion.  A series of coaching decisions (see point 4) put the team in a negative situation.  James was not playing with efficiency (see point 3).  Finally, the team was facing the possibility of going down 3 games to 1.
2. When Facing Crisis You Want Leaders Who Have Overcome It Before – Leading through crisis is not for novices.  James said, “I’ve made big shots before in the postseason. Obviously, this is a huge win for our team. You don’t want to go down 3-1 against anyone. We were able to regain home-court (advantage) with the shot.”
3. Leading Through Crisis Requires Leaders Who Can Produce At THAT Specific Moment – James had not been having a good game.  He had shot only 9 for 29 leading up to the final seconds.  However, he was the perfect person to take THAT shot at THAT moment.
4. Leading Through Crisis Often Requires Overcoming Previous Bad Leadership Decisions – Head coach David Blatt’s original plan was for James to pass the ball in rather than taking the shot.  Blatt had also mismanaged the clock and even attempted to take a timeout the team did not have.
5. Leading Through Crisis Requires Decisive Leadership – Indecision leads to insecurity.  Leading through crisis requires confidence and clarity.  James said, “To be honest, the play that was drawn up, I scratched it and told coach to just give me that ball.”
6. Leading Through Crisis Requires Leaders Who Take Responsibility For The Results – It is a fundamental truth not all players want the ball at the end of a game.  They do not want the responsibility and the heat which comes from lack of production.  There are also leaders who are more concerned with CYA, finger-pointing or passing blame than owning the results of their decisions and actions.  James continued, “Have somebody else take the ball out, give me the ball and everybody get out of the way.”
7. Leaders Through Crisis Requires Leaders Who Deeply Care About Those On Their Team – Great leaders know the impact their decisions have on others.  Through the first four games of the series, James had only shot 43.1% from the field and made 5.8 turnovers per game.  James admitted, “”I just don’t like letting my teammates down.  I did that in a few plays late in the fourth.”
8. Leading Through Crisis Requires Overcoming Tremendous Obstacles – This is important because experienced leaders know the obstacles we encounter only get tougher along the way.  At every new level we encounter a new devil.  James noted, “I know some challenges present different ways of winning.  Obviously with my point guard a little hobbled right now. My other All-Star is out for the rest of the season.… I’ve got to do whatever it takes.”
9. Leading Through Crisis Requires A Team Effort – Crisis management is not a solo effort.  It takes a team.  The Cleveland Cavaliers got tremendous efforts from the supporting cast of Tristan Thompson, Timofey Mozgov, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith and Matthew Dellavedova among others.
10. Leading Through Crisis Requires No Excuses – Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said after game 4, “We have more than enough, so whoever we have, just find way.”  Unfortunately for the Bulls, they did not but James and the Cavaliers did.
11. Leading Through Crisis Requires Leaders Who Are Reliable – Leading through crisis requires both ability and availability.  When asked by an ESPN/ABC courtside reporter about his sore ankle and availability for game 5, James responded he would be listed as “Active.”  Indeed he was.  In game 5, James scored 38 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals.

After reading this list, are you a leader who could lead your team through a time of crisis?  Would your team feel the same way?

For more on the leadership of LeBron James, click 21 Lessons Pastors Can Learn From LeBron James’ Letter About How Top Leaders Think, 14 Quotes And Lessons On Apex Leadership We Learn From LeBron James and 12 Leadership Quotes And Prinicples From LeBron James And The Miami Heat.

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