Appreciative leadership and communication in crisis situations: 14 tips

Managers should cultivate an appreciative approach to their employees that is characterized by mutual respect. "Leadership with appreciation" - this is often emphasized in leadership seminars. But in everyday work, employees often feel little of this. It is not uncommon for a rather harsh tone to prevail: especially when there is a fire in the company's woodwork - for example, because revenues are falling away - and the managers themselves are under a great deal of pressure. In such cases, even the most banal rules of etiquette that actually apply to human interaction are often forgotten.

Appreciative leadership: 14 tips

1. Before you communicate with employees, reflect on their state of mind. This is especially important in crisis situations, because these also unsettle your employees.
2. Never compose and send an e-mail spontaneously, for example, out of a feeling of anger. You will usually regret this a short time later. First save the mail in the drafts folder and then reread it once or twice before you press the send button.
3. Before communicating with employees - regardless of the channel - always reflect on your own state of mind. If you feel unable to communicate in an appreciative manner, postpone the conversation or do something to improve your mood first.
4. Accept that you too are a flesh and blood being and often do not react as rationally as you would like. Become aware of the emotions you are feeling right now that are influencing how you feel and act. Emotions are not diseases, they are a part of us.
5. If you feel insecure or even helpless in the face of the actual situation, deal with it - if possible with stable, reflective personalities from your network or a good coach. Gain as much security as possible without deluding yourself. Take charge instead of being a "victim of circumstances".
6. Try to accept the bad circumstances or general conditions as you would the weather - according to the maxim: "Change it, love it or leave it". There is suitable clothing for every weather and adequate behavior for every situation or constellation.
7. As a manager, you need to be able to control your emotional balance, because one of your tasks is to give your employees orientation and support. Make sure that you always see the silver lining on the horizon or the light at the end of the tunnel. For example, by making yourself aware of the difficulties you and your team have already overcome in the past.
8. In crisis situations, seek more personal contact with your employees. Ask them about your personal situation. Give them an insight into your emotional life. This makes you human and strengthens their relationship.
9. Take responsibility for your behavior. Apologize sincerely if you have used a wrong tone or overstepped the mark for emotional reasons. Forgive yourself for such "little mistakes", because "Nobody is perfect".
10. Be aware: Successful communication always presupposes a mutual willingness to understand the other person correctly. Therefore, you are not responsible for every misunderstanding. Nevertheless, clarify them quickly.
11. Do not be tempted to go in search of personal "culprits". That only costs time and puts you in a bad mood. Instead, look for the (problem) causes and solutions.
12. If your corporate culture allows it, also talk to colleagues in management about your feelings and concerns. Then you will almost always find out: You are not alone in having them. Consequently, they are not an expression of personal weaknesses, but are situational. If this is not possible in your company, find another forum for exchange - such as my workshop for leadership and change.
13. Make sure that people around you regularly give you an unvarnished reflection of your external impact. This is your only possibility to find out whether your behavior triggers in others what you want to achieve or exactly the opposite.
14. Take care of your mental hygiene and work-life balance, especially in crisis and stress situations - for example, by doing sports or targeted relaxation in your free time to provide the necessary balance. Otherwise, your pent-up negative emotions will suddenly burst out of you in an uncontrolled manner and those around you will be shocked into distancing themselves from you.

Therefore, as a manager, remember this in your leadership work: How much respect and appreciation you show your employees can be seen by them in many apparent little things.

To the author: Klaus Doll is the owner of Klaus Doll Organisationsberatung, Neustadt an der Weinstraße. He regularly organizes a two-day open "Workshop for Leadership and Change" in which executives jointly reflect on their personal current situation in their company, among other things (www.doll-beratung.de).