Every corporate leader who has worked through a moment of crisis has felt a particular instinct: Move fast. Cut through the chaos and put the issue to bed.
That instinct gets leaders into trouble. In a crisis, speed can turn from a CEO’s greatest strength into their most dangerous liability. At a moment when everyone around them is moving at warp speed, they need the discipline to slow down the clock.
Writing for Fast Company, One Strategy Group CEO David Meadvin explains why moving too quickly can exacerbate problems and lead to a "crisis death spiral."
Instead, he writes that it's imperative for executives to see time as a strategic asset.
"Those who brand themselves crisis comms specialists will cringe when they read this, but here’s the truth: Very few crises demand instant action. The issue that seems like life or death when you’re in the middle of a chaotic war room probably doesn’t matter all that much to everyone else in the world. They’re worried about their kids or thinking about their next vacation. A fire in a factory or a data breach exposing millions of customers—that’s different. Most reputational crises allow for hours, even days, of breathing room. The key is to use that time wisely."
