Crisis feels like a storm blowing through the fields. Unpredictable. Unsettling. Overwhelming at times.
But storms pass. The best leaders prepare their fields, tend to their teams, and keep planting in adverse weather conditions.
Here are 10 principles for leading with strategy in a crisis:
Take Care of Health, Yours and Theirs
A farmer tends to the soil before planting. Leaders tend to personal, family, and financial health before expecting growth anywhere else.Pre-Mortem Analysis, Anticipate Weeds
Farmers walk fields to see what could choke a crop. Leaders do the same by looking ahead and identifying potential problems before they occur.Stay Coachable and Adaptable
Weather changes fast. Crisis conditions do too. Leaders must be willing to adjust the plan when the environment shifts.Inspire Hope and Optimism
Farmers plant without guarantees. Leaders do the same by cultivating hope and reinforcing that the effort today is worth the harvest tomorrow.Reset Priorities and Communicate Them
During a drought, water is allocated to the most vital crops. In crisis, leaders focus attention on what matters most and make that clear to everyone.Manage Resources Wisely
A wise farmer rations seed and water. Leaders ration time, energy, and money by investing where the return is strongest.Set Emotional Boundaries
Storms can wash out a crop, but farmers still return to the fields. Leaders avoid getting consumed by fear and protect their inner ground.Avoid Binary Thinking
Crops rarely grow in perfect straight lines. Leadership requires nuance and the courage to see possibilities beyond either-or decisions.Control the Narrative
Farmers tell the story of the land with every crop. Leaders shape the story their team believes, and the right story fuels resilience.Re-examine Strategy and Re-vision the Future
After a storm, farmers reassess, replant, and adapt. Crisis is not an ending. It is an opening to grow stronger and wiser.
Crisis does not demand perfection. It calls for steady farming of trust, hope, and strategy. Leaders who plant wisely in hard seasons build resilience that lasts.
These principles are part of the leadership playbook I teach teams navigating disruption. If your organization is facing rough weather, let’s connect. I would love to help your leaders prepare the fields for growth.