Crisis management - use your skills to keep a cool head

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Crises often occur suddenly. Unforeseeable developments lead to complications that ultimately take a threatening turn. Efficient crisis management is necessary to avert danger and end the critical situation.

There is hardly any area of life that is not affected by critical constellations. Corporate crises are particularly serious. Economic changes, supplier failures, staff shortages and financial bottlenecks can trigger serious crises.

Serious consequences can only be prevented through appropriate crisis management. At the same time, every crisis is an opportunity, Possible solutions and to find new paths. This is the task of the crisis manager, which is examined in more detail in this article.

Introduction: What does crisis management really mean?

A difficult situation is referred to as a crisis. If work processes are permanently disrupted and the continued existence of the company is at risk, this constitutes a corporate crisis. This is where operational crisis management comes in.

The task of the crisis manager is to identify problems that have led to the crisis. Based on the results of the analysis, a solution strategy is developed to resolve the crisis. successful to cope with.

Self-employed people, companies and organizations are often exposed to crisis situations. Critical developments have different causes and characteristics. Crisis management in companies covers a broad spectrum of emergencies for which an effective strategy must be developed. Examples include

  • Decline in economic performance
  • Data breaches
  • Quality problems
  • Supply bottlenecks
  • Negative developments on the global markets
  • Financial problems

The quality of crisis management and the competence of the crisis manager have a major influence on whether the crisis is successfully averted.

Professional crisis management is therefore a decisive factor for the success of a company or organization. The crisis manager is expected to develop suitable response plans and measures in order to overcome the crisis situation as quickly as possible.

The role of a crisis manager: What is expected of you?

Operational crisis management is extremely important, as the existence of the company depends on it in an emergency. The better the preparation for potential crises is structured, the more efficiently the company can react if necessary.

The typical tasks and responsibilities of a crisis manager include

  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Setting up and managing working groups and crisis teams
  • Strategic planning
  • Establishment of preventive measures
  • Reporting on the status of crisis management

Depending on the industry and the needs of the company, the crisis manager's area of responsibility also includes setting up internal crisis programs and conducting crisis training.

Crisis managers are executives who have communication skills and the most important communication models and apply them. For this responsible job, qualities such as:

  • Decisiveness
  • Problem solving skills
  • Stress resistance and resilience
  • High emotional intelligence
  • Strategic thinking
  • Assertiveness

provided.

Study crisis management: Your path to expertise

As crises are increasing worldwide, a career in crisis management is one of the most interesting career prospects. Crisis management courses are offered by various educational institutions. These include universities and private colleges as well as universities of applied sciences. At a distance learning university, you can complete courses in crisis management online so that you can pursue your usual career full-time.

The duration of a crisis management course depends on the type of course. A Bachelor's degree requires three to four years of study (six to eight semesters). A Master's degree in crisis management can be obtained after around two years of study (two to four semesters).

For part-time courses, the duration of study depends on your availability and learning pace. On average, an online degree in crisis management can be achieved after two to four years.

crisis management studies

5 essential strategies in crisis management

Crisis management is about finding quick solutions to overcome or avert the crisis. The five best-known strategies for finding a way out of difficult crisis situations are:

  1. Market analysis
  2. Formulate alternative solutions
  3. Restructuring
  4. Realignment
  5. Crisis roadmap

The systematic analysis of the respective market forms the basis for developing a crisis strategy. The market data provides information on whether there is demand for the products or services offered by the company.

An economic crisis can make it necessary to restructure and realign individual departments or the entire company.

Alternative solutions are formulated by crisis management after careful research into the causes. The strategy commonly referred to as "Plan B" is an optional course of action if the actual planning does not lead to the desired result.

After assessing the weak points in the company that trigger or exacerbate a crisis, the crisis manager draws up a crisis roadmap. The crisis management plan precisely defines the individual steps for overcoming the current crisis situation. An effective crisis management plan is based on the crisis manager's risk assessment and includes specific measures.

How coaching can improve your crisis management skills

As a competent crisis manager, you use your specialist knowledge and soft skills to develop efficient solutions that lead out of the crisis. Important decisions require strong personality. Professional coaching provides important support in the development and refinement of crisis management skills.

At Personality coaching the personality and behavioral analysis developed by US psychologist William Moulton Marston is used. The scientifically based method distinguishes between four personality types. Findings of the Personality Analysis help to optimize communication skills, which are of great importance in conflict management and difficult negotiations.

Tibor Schady and voluntary crisis management: a case study

Tibor Schady's voluntary crisis management is a case study in successful crisis management. After the flood disaster in the Eifel region, the volunteer did not wait and see, but took action himself.

Schady collected donations and financial resources and placed them where the aid was most urgently needed. Tibor Schady's voluntary crisis management is considered exemplary. It is thanks to the crisis manager, who was always ready for action, that the relief supplies reached those affected quickly.

By planning ahead and taking targeted action, crisis situations are easier to manage and can often even be avoided altogether.

Crisis management jobs: what opportunities are there?

There is a high demand for well-trained specialists in the field of crisis management. A wide range of employment opportunities and long-term career prospects make entry into professional crisis management an interesting prospect.

In principle, crises can happen in any company. Crisis management experts who develop strategies to overcome difficult situations can find a varied field of activity in almost any industry. Crisis management jobs are available in small companies as well as international corporations. Almost all companies rely on the expertise of a crisis manager.

Crisis managers are employed as emergency management managers in hospitals and other areas of the healthcare sector. As PR specialists, they are responsible for press releases and working with the media in large companies.

Many employers employ crisis managers in preventive crisis management. Jobs in this specialist field are offered in the private sector as well as in government institutions. Current vacancies in crisis management are usually published online, on job portals and in the national and local press.

Risk assessment and crisis prevention: more than just reaction

Careful risk assessment is the basis for efficient crisis prevention. The task of a crisis manager is not only to manage crises, but also to prevent them through preventive measures.

Identifying risks at an early stage enables critical developments to be recognized in good time. Act proactively means not waiting for the crisis to escalate, but taking action. The development of an event can be influenced with advance planning and targeted action.

A practical example of proactive thinking is crisis management that becomes active and takes countermeasures at the first sign of an impending crisis. If sales statistics show a drop, sales-promoting measures are taken immediately. An IT security plan is proactively developed to rule out cyber attacks or data leaks.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about crisis management

What does crisis management mean?

The task of crisis management is to develop solutions and strategies in order to Overcoming crises of all kinds or to prevent them.

Where are crisis managers deployed?

A degree in crisis management opens up a wide range of career opportunities. Employment is possible in business, commerce, academia, government agencies and other state institutions.

Conclusion: Why good crisis management is crucial for every business

Sudden crises can have serious consequences. By developing an action plan in conjunction with efficient measures, crisis management supports a company or institution in overcoming a crisis.

Crisis managers are sought-after experts who use their professional and personal skills to actively promote the management of corporate crises. Personality coaching helps you to improve your crisis management skills. Use your skills to develop yourself further and make an important professional impact as a crisis manager.

Reviewed by Dr. med. Stefan Frädrich

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