Crisis Leadership - why is crisis leadership a core competency of a manager today?

08/18/2025

Introduction

Until recently, most leaders treated crises as something special - rare events that can be resolved with prepared procedures. Today we know that crisis leadership, or leadership in a crisis, has become a core competency of the senior manager.

Crises are occurring with increasing frequency and complexity. A leader is expected not only to manage the situation, but also to lead people through the chaos, give them a sense of security and provide direction.

Why is crisis leadership training needed right now?

On a daily basis - both in our company and in many other organizations - we are increasingly seeing crises that are not the result of major global disasters, but ordinary, internal challenges:

the departure of key people and the leadership gap,
adapting teams to new realities, anomalies and market changes,
the need for rapid reorganization and difficult personnel decisions.

These phenomena alone are a serious test for leaders. And when we add to them global crises - geopolitical, energy, health or digital - it becomes clear that crisis leadership is a must have for every senior manager.

That's why crisis leadership training is becoming so important. It is no longer an "additional competence," but the foundation of the resilience of the entire organization.

Crisis Leadership vs. classic crisis management

Many people confuse crisis leadership with crisis management. However, the difference is fundamental:

crisis management - is based on procedures, contingency plans and ready-made instructions,
crisis leadership - is the ability to lead people in conditions of chaos, uncertainty and pressure.

Procedures are important, but it is the leader's attitude that determines whether the team will remain calm and act effectively. The leader must be the psychological anchor of the team and at the same time a person capable of making quick decisions under pressure.

What competencies does crisis leadership training develop?

Training for TOP Managers focuses on practical skills that are essential in crisis situations:

Decisions under pressure - how to make decisions in a crisis with lack of data and limited resources.
Crisis communication - how to communicate in a crisis in a way that builds trust, not panic.
Mental resilience of the leader - techniques for recovery, stress management and maintaining clarity of thought.
Building organizational resilience - strategies to turn a crisis into an opportunity to strengthen the company.

What sets the Excellence in Crisis Leadership©℠ program apart is its use of military techniques (used in VUCA and BANI conditions, derived from Army practice), survival behaviors (managing energy, priorities and resources), and psychological support tools for the team in violent crises recommended by the WHO, among others.
It is this set of proven approaches that makes crisis leadership an essential arsenal of tools for any manager prepared to lead a team in crisis and build organizational resilience.

Crisis leadership training - workshops for boards and top management

Crisis leadership training differs from typical crisis management courses. Instead of focusing solely on procedures, it puts participants in the role of leaders in real-life situations of chaos.

It's a workshop in which participants learn through experience - simulations, case studies, decision-making exercises. Each manager develops his or her own crisis leader protocol - a ready-made set of rules and actions that help lead the team in difficult moments.

In this way, crisis leadership training for management becomes not only an education, but also a practical preparation for leading an organization in times of uncertainty.

Organizational resilience - a new competitive advantage

In a world where crises are becoming the norm, the advantage is gained by resilient organizations - those that can recover quickly and operate effectively even in an unpredictable environment.

Building organizational resilience means investing in people, processes, culture and leadership. It also means being willing to adapt and reflect - being able to learn from difficult experiences.

The leader's role is not only to react, but also to create an environment in which the team can find meaning and energy even in crisis.

Summary - crisis leadership as a must have of the 21st century leader

Crisis leadership is no longer an "add-on" to classic management. It is the foundation that determines whether a company will survive turbulence and emerge stronger from it.

Crisis leadership training allows managers to practice these skills in a safe environment - before life puts them to the real test.

That's why today, when we see both internal organizational challenges (key people leaving, teams realigning) and global crises, crisis leadership is becoming the most important competency of the TOP Manager.