Leading Through Change
Leading Effectively in Crisis Situations
Prepare leaders to set priorities, make sound decisions under pressure, and communicate clearly as a crisis unfolds.
Standard version
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Crises change the conditions leaders usually rely on. Information is incomplete, consequences are significant, and people expect answers right away. This course helps leaders assess crisis conditions, set priorities, make sound decisions under pressure, and communicate clearly as situations change. The emphasis is on leadership action, not crisis theory, so participants leave with approaches they can apply immediately.
What you'll learn
- Distinguish crisis situations from routine operational challenges.
- Assess crisis conditions and identify leadership priorities.
- Make informed decisions when information is incomplete.
- Communicate effectively during rapidly evolving situations.
- Lead people through uncertainty and disruption.
What you'll be able to do
- Recognize when a situation requires a crisis leadership response.
- Stay composed and lead themselves before leading others.
- Set clear priorities when everything feels urgent.
- Communicate with clarity and honesty as facts change.
- Identify specific actions to strengthen their crisis leadership.
Federal and military leaders may face operational disruptions, infrastructure failures, cyber incidents, or workforce emergencies with little warning. This course helps leaders assess crisis conditions, set priorities, make decisions before all the facts are known, and communicate clearly with their teams and leadership. Realistic scenarios keep the focus on leadership action, and it supports the crisis management topics within OPM's Senior Executive Development Program (SEDP).
What you'll learn
- Distinguish crisis situations from routine operational challenges.
- Assess crisis conditions and identify leadership priorities.
- Make informed decisions when information is incomplete.
- Communicate effectively with teams, leadership, and partners during rapidly evolving situations.
- Lead people through uncertainty and disruption.
What you'll be able to do
- Recognize when a situation calls for a crisis leadership response.
- Stay composed and lead themselves before leading others.
- Set and communicate clear priorities under pressure.
- Keep leadership and partners informed as conditions change.
- Identify specific actions to strengthen their crisis leadership in their area of responsibility.