Crisis Management versus Crisis Leadership

We recently gave a client a presentation on effective crisis management and a thought came to mind regarding a disconnect in how teams handle crisis.   Our findings (mock disasters, real events, etc.) indicate that today’s corporate crisis management teams are good at crisis management (tactical) but not at crisis leadership (strategic).  We need to better educate and train our crisis teams to continue to improve their tactical skills but , more importantly, strengthen their crisis leadership skills.  We, as planners, need to alter mock disaster exercises to adequately balance both of these critical components.  I have personally shifted exercises where teams have a good handle on crisis management to focus on crisis leadership by having them spend more time planning and considering the impacts of their decisions.  Remember, have your teams focus on the end in mind.