How to lead any crisis

according to PwC’s CEO Survey in 2024Nearly half of CEOs are unsure that their company will survive in the next decade without reshaping. Although it is a sober statistic, it is not surprising.

I’ve seen what happens when a business grows complacent – When they confuse stability with sustainability. Economic transfer. Disaster strike. People quit. Trends change. The question is not whether the interruption will come. This is whether you have the courage and perseverance to execute, embrace and inspire it.

At Belfor, our team activates and rebuilds homes, schools and businesses after disasters. But the real work started early, flooding or fire burning. It begins with Mindset – Reject comfort and living in “always…can do…will do…whatever do…whatever does…culture.” This is how we rebuild our community.

Let me know: I am not an economist or a futurist. I was just a guy who grew up in Detroit, started working young and learned the hard way to adapt as life brought curveballs. As I want to say: Is there a plan? OK, be prepared, because there is a way to hit scripts in real life.

This perspective shapes every decision I make as CEO of Belfor, which now spans 49 countries and employs more than 13,000 team members. By decades Economic turmoil We have advanced to natural disasters – not only because of our work, but also because of the way we think. Our constantly adapted culture helps to boost growth.

Related: 7 Ways to Fight Workplace Complacent and Ensure Success

The market has changed – but complacency has caused real damage

I believe that no matter your role in the company, complacency has no seats. For example, I put the walls of the office naked – not because I don’t care about the achievements of our company, but because I never want to forget that things will change immediately. By not hanging decorations, it’s a constant reminder that I’ve never been completely settled. And I don’t want to settle down!

Success can blur your mirror. It’s easy to relieve gas when things are good and the road feels smooth. Real Elasticity Even if everything looks good, put your hands on the steering wheel. Complacent is likely to cause you to collapse.

Netflix is ​​a perfect example. We all remember those bright red envelopes appearing on our doors. However, when the digital wave hit, Netflix didn’t stick to the past. it Adapt to survival. From mailing DVDs to streaming to creating your own award-winning content, the company has ruined itself time and time again. Today, this is an entertainment empire. This unremitting evolutionary mindset is more than just innovation. This is rule.

From backup changes to game changes

I never thought I would run a multibillion dollar business. I grew up in Detroit, the oldest of four boys raised by a single mom. I started working since I was 11 and every dollar I earned paid tribute to her directly to help her family float. The first tip I got was $1 from the waiting table. I spent a dime to call my mom and proudly shared the news. She ignited me for wasting 10% of my income. Lessons learned, soon.

From flipping burgers and shiny shoes to storing vending machines, my early work taught me how to be busy, listen and Stay humble. When I finally started at Belfor, I didn’t get into the leadership role. I started from the bottom and worked hard.

These experiences shape the way I lead today. Resilience is not a corporate strategy, it is something you live in. When you get nothing, you never forget what you need to reach.

Related: Nothing allows me to run a billion dollar company

1. Infer predictable

When we stop pushing ourselves, we stop growing. This is true in business and in life. Resilience begins with leaders Challenge the status quonot out of fear, but out of commitment to long-term relevance. Create space for hard conversations. Challenge your assumptions. Breaking your habits in the market will ruin your habits.

2. People are not policy first; it is a culture

Without anyone, there is no success. They fight you in a crisis and prevent it before it begins.

At Belfor, I personally send handwritten birthday cards to every team member every year. This is not a head. Remind us that we will be family. When a crisis hits, people who feel supportive, whether it’s a hurricane or a personal emergency will show up everything they have. Because we People feel valuablethey are less inclined to resist change and necessary destruction. In fact, they embraced it and raised it.

This approach is more important than ever. According to Gallup, employees’ engagement in the United States 10-year lows in 2024Only 31% of employees are engaged and 17% are actively disengaged. This decline emphasizes the importance of fostering supportive and engaging work environments that people feel like people rather than numbers.

Related: Being people can help you succeed first when expanding globally

3. Innovation in peace, not just crisis

I learned that the worst time to start making a plan is that you are already in the storm. Innovation should not only be reactive. In fact, some of our best ideas come in a quieter season when we have bandwidth to experiment, rethink and build future bandwidth.

Remember how Netflix did not wait for the crisis to innovate? It creates its own motivation. Resilience businesses prepare before being forced to prepare.

4. Keep it simple and fundamentally transparent

when Uncertainty arisesclarity is more important than ever. Complex plans and vague messaging quickly collapsed in the crisis. As leaders, we owe our teams, direct, direct and accessible. In fact, 88% of leaders Deloitte’s survey agreed that increasing transparency leads to greater workforce trust.

In my experience, things that are overly thorough often try to hide fear. But fear thrives in chaos. If you don’t know, please say so. If you are adjusting your plan, please explain why. Trust grows when people feel informed and included.

5. Strong leader plans to move forward – and stick to values

In Belfor, we have seen the speed at which the ground can transfer. Floods, fires, pandemics, we have responded to it all. The most resilient leaders we work with are not people with strict strategies. They can pivot At the same time, maintain its values.

We build contingency plans like anyone else. But we also inspire our leaders Value-driven decision-making Under pressure. Quick action will not work if it doesn’t match what you are and what you represent.

Related: How to lead and manage your team during times of crisis

Prosperity means choosing discomfort before choosing you

Resilience is not what you have ever built. This is the muscle. Like any muscle, it will only grow when pushed away – when you walk out Comfort Zone And work before the world asks you.

If you are the business owner reading this, I will challenge you to get started now. When the news gets worse, not. Not when the number drops. Now. Ask yourself: Where did I become so comfortable? What are my assumptions about my team, industry, and the future?

The secret to long-term success is not just about getting rid of the storm, but also about making it work your strength. Those most powerful are not those who simply endure, but those who prepare and adapt before the clouds pour in.