How to Practice Ethical Leadership in a Crisis

When the Palisades fire erupted near my home in Los Angeles, it brought devastation that felt deeply personal. Like many around me, I’ve seen friends lose homes, cherished keepsakes, pets, livelihoods—and their children’s sense of safety. Even for those of us fortunate to be outside of the inferno's relentless path, the grief for what has been lost is shared. Disasters like these aren’t just stories of loss—they reveal the ripple effects on communities and organizations. They’re a call to action for leaders to step up with empathy and support. Here’s how leaders and businesses can help their teams navigate the unexpected: 1️⃣ 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 Give employees space to handle crises—whether through flexible hours, remote work, or paid leave. 2️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 Connect your team with mental health services, disaster relief organizations, housing assistance, and other resources. Leaders don’t need all the answers, but facilitating help can be life-changing. 3️⃣ 𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Create safe spaces for employees to share and process their emotions, whether in group check-ins or one-on-ones. Sometimes, being heard is the first step toward healing. 4️⃣ 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 Engage your team in relief efforts. Here are a few examples in addition to the 𝐋𝐀𝐅𝐃 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 and 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬. 🔹 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 who’ve lost classrooms and school supplies. 🔹 Partner with organizations like 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧 to provide meals for firefighters and evacuees. 🔹 Support 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐄 (Community Organized Relief Effort) to aid underserved communities. 5️⃣ 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 Disasters are inevitable, but preparation makes a difference. Build a crisis plan that prioritizes employee well-being, clear communication, and community response. Leading through crises isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about showing up with empathy. People will remember how you supported them when it mattered most. Los Angeles, like so many communities facing fires, floods, and storms, will rebuild. Thoughtful leadership can help workplaces play a vital role in that resilience. #ILoveLA #LeadershipInCrisis #EmpathyInAction #StrongerTogether #EmployeeWellBeing #januscoaching 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘵 - 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 - 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵: 𝘓𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘦𝘥𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬

dear leadership teams with employees in southern california, the fires across our region have grown 50x more widespread, leaving devastation in their wake. two of my former colleagues have already lost their homes, and countless others are navigating unimaginable uncertainty. this is not just a news headline — it’s a lived experience for many of our employees, colleagues, and neighbors. if you’re having a performance management conversation with an employee whose neighbor’s house is on fire, or if you’re asking someone to lead a discussion while they’re preparing to evacuate, it’s important to remember: they won’t be fully present. their minds are understandably elsewhere. with LAUSD schools closed today (nation’s 2nd largest school district), and universities also shutting down, many employees are juggling work, full-time caregiving, and crisis preparation. parents, including teachers, across Los Angeles are understandably nervous about the safety of their children and families. what started as a local issue has now become a national issue, as families and loved ones across the country await updates and resources. what does this mean in coaching your leaders and their their people managers? this is the time to pause, lead with care, and think about the whole person—not just their role. i’ve penciled together a top 10 empathy checklist for managers during crises to help leaders show the flexibility and compassion their teams need right now. Empathy Checklist for Managers During Crises 1️⃣ Acknowledge the Crisis. Recognize the situation’s impact on your employees and validate their feelings. 2️⃣ Check In Individually. Schedule one-on-one conversations to ask how team members are doing 3️⃣ Be Flexible with Deadlines. Adjust timelines and expectations to reduce stress for affected employees. 4️⃣ Support Working Parents. Offer flexibility to help parents balance work and childcare during school and university closures. 5️⃣ Pause Non-Essential Feedback. Delay performance reviews or tough conversations until stability returns. 6️⃣ Provide Mental Health Resources. Share Employee Assistance Program (EAP) details or other support options. 7️⃣ Simplify Workloads. Reassess tasks and redistribute if needed to avoid overwhelming employees. 8️⃣Communicate Clearly and Often. Keep your team informed and maintain open lines of communication. 9️⃣ Create Safe Spaces. Allow team members to express concerns without judgment. 🔟 Show Gratitude and Compassion. Acknowledge their efforts and offer words of encouragement during this time. this is a moment for deep thoughtful leadership. by cascading empathy together, we can make a real difference in the lives of our teams and our customers. if you have ideas or best practices for leading through crises, i’d love to hear them. let’s share, learn, and lead together.

For years, I've evaluated leaders based on traditional metrics: track record, strategic thinking, team management. But moments of crisis reveal something far more telling about true leadership: It's not just about managing the immediate crisis, it’s about seeing the bigger picture. As I watched the devastating fires tear through Los Angeles the past two weeks, I was reminded of this crucial leadership lesson: True leadership extends far beyond the obvious. It's not just about managing the immediate emergency, it's about seeing the cascading ripples throughout an organization. It’s understanding that your team member whose elderly parents live in the fire zone is struggling with anxiety, even if they're physically safe. It's acknowledging that the colleague who volunteers with fire relief efforts is emotionally drained, though their own home remains untouched. After 20+ years in executive search, I'm convinced that empathy isn't a "soft skill" – it's a core leadership requirement. The strongest leaders I've placed understand that impact reverberates. Here's what meaningful empathy looks like in action: - Creating safe spaces for employees to share their experiences - Offering flexible work arrangements without waiting to be asked - Proactively connecting team members with mental health resources These moments remind us that leadership excellence isn't measured in quarterly results or strategic plans, but in how we show up for our people when the unexpected strikes. #tothetop