Every organization will face a crisis at some point. While the COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented, operating in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) world has long meant that crisis is inevitable. Whether an organization succeeds through a crisis is dependent upon its leader’s actions. In fact, a leader’s legacy is often determined by how he or she handles a major crisis. Effective leaders must make good decisions quickly, often based on limited information. Effective leaders must serve as a rallying force that keeps employees on track. Organizations with the best leaders are the ones that come out on top when the crisis subsides. The question then is this: What personality characteristics are most critical for leading an organization through crisis?
