Your team’s alignment isn’t tested in the boardroom. It’s tested when everything goes sideways.
Thirty minutes at our kitchen table saved us from four days of chaos.
With high winds and fire danger approaching, my husband and I knew we’d likely lose power. So we sat down and asked ourselves:
- Do we stay or go?
- What do we need to do to prepare the house?
- What’s critical to take, and what can we leave behind?
That’s it. Thirty minutes of alignment before the crisis hit.
When the power went out and the winds really whipped up, we didn’t waste energy debating or second-guessing. We executed.
That crisis alignment step—before the crisis happens—is what most leadership teams skip.
They wait until they’re in the middle of the crisis to figure out who’s doing what, what matters most, and how decisions get made. By then, stress is high and clarity is low. Adrenaline is running the show and no one is showing up as their best selves.
But it can be done well.
In my last corporate role we had a brilliant SVP of Strategic Communications who insisted on crisis alignment and preparedness. Working with our leadership team, she came up with a variety of crisis scenarios, and then ran crisis simulations with the team. Full scenarios. Real pressure.
Leaders who rolled their eyes walking in were stunned by how effective—and revealing—those sessions were. We walked out with clear direction on and decision trees on how we’d activate in a crisis.
The simulations exposed gaps they never would have found in a conference room conversation. And when real crises hit? They would be able to move as one.
Three hours of alignment beats thirty hours of reactive chaos.
When’s the last time your leadership team pressure-tested their alignment on how you’ll operate before the storm hits?
Looking to increase the cohesion, trust, and impact of your leadership team? Reach out and let’s discuss The Compass Team Experience and how I can help.
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