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HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

JS Clark Agency

April 9, 2020

Lee E. Meadows, Ph.D

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

Crisis: An unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending.

Merriam-Webster

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

Leading during the unexpected

Balance the needs of the organization and its employees

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

Organizational Needs

• Internal Control Management

• Resource Deployment

• Precise Communications

• Accelerated response time

• Present transparency

• Reactive to proactive

“How do we survive?”

Employee Needs

• Individual control management

• Assessment of personal resources

• Trustworthy communications

• Accelerated response time

• Believe the transparency

• Reactive to prevention

“How do I survive?”

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

HR Leadership Crisis ModelCrisis

Predictable UnpredictableLevel of Intensity

HurricanesTornadoesDroughtsMassive Layoffs

Established Procedures

Oil Crisis9/11Financial ShenanigansBoston MarathonCoronavirus

Disruption

Situational Procedures

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

HR Leadership Crisis Model

Crisis

Reaction

Control

Actions

Monitoring

The change

HR Leadership During A Time of CrisisHR Leadership Crisis Model

Reaction

Manage emotions

Inform with facts

Use established procedures

Rely on experts

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

HR Leadership Crisis Model

Actions

Position HR at the core of strategy

Counsel to provide trustworthy communication

Identify policies that allow for a ‘flexible’ implementation

Foster collaboration, cooperation and unity

Track the data

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

HR Leadership Crisis Model

Monitoring

Reinforce focus

Address rumors and speculations

Identify emerging patterns

Establish a ‘hotline’ for employee concerns

Follow social media communication

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

HR Leadership Crisis Model

The Change

Communicate the impact

Help analyze the ‘new normal’

Discuss the new relationships connections

Begin ‘change’ implementation strategies

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

Planning for the next crisis: ?

HR professional Marilyn Vinch 2019

1. Develop a crisis preparedness plan that fully integrates the human capital

2. Establish a crisis management team

3. Focus on information and training

4. Plan for a recovery phase

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

”It’s not just the crisis,

It’s the ambiguity”

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis

Q & A

HR Leadership During A Time of Crisis