Times of crisis are perfect times to use the power of questions.
Questions can bring clarity. Especially if the questions are laser-focused and help you cut to the heart of the matter.
Discovering the right questions to ask can be a bit more difficult than the actual asking of the question. That’s why we have Google and the internets and this blog.
Today, I’m going to look at 5 questions to ask during a crisis. These will help you focus on what needs to be done and how to do it.
5 Questions To Ask During A Crisis Like COVID-19
Question #1: What do I do NEXT?
A crisis hits and it feels like all hell has broken loose. Sometimes it has.
This feeling of helplessness can paralyze those in leadership. That’s why we must ask question #1: What do I do next?
It’s not “What is everything we have to do?” It is simply figuring out the next step.
Once you’ve done what you’ve needed to do next, you ask the question again. And again. And again.
Question #2: Who needs to be in what position during this crisis?
We all have unique skills and abilities. Some of us are better equipped to handle a crisis than others. We need to find these people and put them in the right seat on our bus.
Consult with your team. Figure out what strengths each team member has in regards to leading through a crisis.
As you determine who has what strengths, begin to place them in positions of leadership. They will help lead and steer your people through the crisis while you deal with managing the effects to your organization.
Question #3: How do we minimize the damage of this crisis?
COVID-19 has hit us like no other crisis in recent history. Millions are or have been unemployed. Businesses have been shut down. People have been told to stay at home.
The damage from COVID-19 has been far-flung. But the damage has also been minimized.
By closing down businesses, the spread of the virus has been slowed. Hospitals have been given breathing room. Lives have been saved.
Extreme measures may have to be taken to reduce the damage caused by a crisis. Be ready and willing to seek out ways to minimize the damage.
Question #4: Who needs our help during this crisis?
You can go one of two ways with this question. I want to encourage you to go both ways.
The first way you can look at this question is: Who in our organization needs our help?
This can be team members, vendors, and customers. These are the people your organization interacts with on a regular basis. Helping them is not only good business, but it’s also good for business.
The second way to look at this question is: Who in our community needs our help?
I’ve seen multiple organizations step up to the plate and help others in our community. They’ve given away free dinners, organized diaper drives, and more.
We need to look out for our own and those in our communities.
Question #5: What can we learn from the crisis?
Crisis always brings opportunity. Through the pain, there is a bright side.
We can learn from a crisis. We can learn what not to do again. Or we can learn what worked and implement this process in the next crisis.
Look for the things you can learn through a crisis. You will be amazed at how much you can grow and thrive during a crisis.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.