A Crisis of Uncertainty

Who do we trust in times of crisis?

Hurricane, Bahamas by Winslow Homer, 1898 (public domain - Wikimedia Commons)

“Anyone can steer the ship when the sea is calm.” — Publius Syrus, c. 40 B.C.

No one likes uncertainty.

Particularly in the midst of a crisis, when we need as many facts as possible, charting a course forward based on a shared reality.

The word crisis is based on the same Latin word meaning “judgment, critical stage,” and borrowed from Greek krísis “act of separating, decision, judgment, event, outcome, turning point, sudden change.”

Both indicate that we need to make a decision or judgment about something at the utmost moment.

As leaders, all eyes are on us in such circumstances, and our actions will either reinforce the trust people have in us or erode it in an instant.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” — Robert Ingersoll, 1883

Character Amid Crises

Leaders make decisions in moments of crisis that tell us something about their character.

Abraham Lincoln