“Never let a good crisis go to waste.”

Churchill is credited with saying this in the mid-1940s as the world approached the end of WWII. Fitting. Crisis tends to bring up negative feelings in many, but crisis also means change is afoot. And change can be very positive. 

Crisis is:

• a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger;
• a time when a difficult or important decision must be made;
• examples include: financial, personnel, organizational, natural.

I’ve been part of a few crises in my day. I mean, no one’s life was at risk, but I’ve witnessed massive transitions where many people were affected. At times, the impact was positive and other times, negative. Why does crisis arise? And when? The answer lies in communication.

“Communication is the key to any relationship.”

– Boydy

Why I think people and organizations struggle with crisis is two-fold:

1. Poor communication.
2. They do not have the capacity to predict crisis.

Why?

They lack awareness.

Awareness and growth (synonymous with change) are connected. Something I call the “The Cycle of Growth” (creative, I know) involves self-awareness, self-reflection and growth; the process is cyclical. One cannot self-reflect effectively without having a high degree of self-awareness. Only then can growth occur.

The National Crisis Management Framework (USA) shares the 5Ps of crisis management.

1. Predict
2. Prevent
3. Prepare
4. Perform
5. Post-Action

Although crisis is not avoidable, its impacts can certainly be dampened by taking the appropriate steps in communication. Increasing one’s degree of self-awareness is challenging and something I continually strive to improve.

What is your level of self-awareness? Can you even answer that?

“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger – but recognize the opportunity.”

– John F. Kennedy