The Ukrainian president’s skills for dealing with crisis are on full display during war

Having lived in Kyiv from 2010 to 2014, I am watching events in Ukraine with pain and sadness. I thank the editors of this publication for running my article in the March 11 edition in which I shared my experience in this beautiful country with many warm and dedicated people. Ukrainians are embracing key values of the Western world: democratic governance, a free press and rule of law.

The Russian invasion is in total opposition to these principles, an effort to dominate by force another country that has done nothing to deserve this treatment.

In 2019, I returned to Ukraine as an international observer during the election of President Zelensky, who won in a fair and open process. I have been following his leadership since then, and, while I had not been that impressed by the comedianturned-politician, recent events have proven me wrong. “I need ammunition, not a ride” is a powerful message that will surely go down in history!

This is not the first time I have written in this publication about crisis leadership skills. Two years ago, in the early days of the pandemic, I wrote a column with the subheading, “Will you be ready when a crisis strikes?” As the pandemic struck our country, I had a déjà vu feeling from 2014 when there was a spike of Ebola cases in West Africa. I was Peace Corps country director in Guinea (right after I had held the same job in Ukraine). We evacuated the Peace Corps volunteers back to the United States, but I stayed behind with the American and Guinean staff to collaborate with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on an innovative community education effort that helped end the Ebola epidemic.

In that 2020 column, I reflected on this experience and the leadership by U.S. Ambassador Alex Laskaris, who demonstrated an array of key crisis leadership skills:

• Stay positive and avoid panic and fear

• Focus on facts and understand the reality of the situation

• Assemble the best talent and listen to their advice

• Understand the culture

• Be inclusive and engage others to facilitate an effective response

• Embrace transparency and openness to reduce rumors and confusion

• Communicate regularly, sharing what you know

• Support and encourage your team.

Building trust is critical. If people lack confidence in the leader, the response will invariably be less successful. Leaders who project a positive, engaging approach will be more effective in rallying people to the cause.

Of course, no two crises are the same, and very few of us will ever find ourselves in a leadership role needing to fend off an invasion by a foreign country. Indeed, sometimes the word “crisis” can be overused to describe situations that might more accurately be described as routine challenges!

As I pondered writing this column, I came upon an excellent piece in Forbes by Edward Segal titled, “As Ukraine Resists Russian Invasion, Zelensky Demonstrates These Leadership Lessons.” Segal observes: “To say he has important lessons for all business leaders about communicating and responding to a crisis would be an understatement.”

Segal’s article builds upon, and expands, the list of key leadership skills I described in my prior column. Among the points he emphasizes:

• Leadership comes from deep within. It is built on character and courage. I would add that it is not something you can put on like a raincoat when it starts to pour!

• Grit is built through struggle (there is no easy way).

• Leaders can come from anywhere — an important point I emphasize in all my leadership trainings.

• Being seen is a key trait that Zelensky has clearly mastered!

• Communicate with humility and empathy

• Authenticity is critical, being real and not an actor (which is ironic given Zelensky’s. background).

• Lead by example.

There have also been some striking photos circulating on social media of an isolated Putin at one end of a long table, far from his generals and advisers, compared to Zelensky up close and fully engaged with his team.

What about you? When a crisis strikes, will you be ready? Have you done your homework when it comes to embracing these key leadership traits? What specific steps could you take to up your leadership game?

We each have an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, including our own. Don’t underestimate your impact!

Douglass P. Teschner, founder of Growing Leadership LLC, can be reached at dteschner@Growing-LeadershipLLC.com.