Brené with Erika James and Lynn Perry Wooten on The Prepared Leader, Part 2 of 2

What It Covers

Organizational psychologists Erika James and Lynn Perry Wooten discuss their book on crisis leadership, covering the distinction between problems and true crises, building trust before emergencies, and leading through uncertainty while managing personal challenges.

Key Questions Answered

• •Crisis vs Problem Definition: True crises are unprecedented events requiring resources you don't have, while problems have known solutions and available resources. Stop labeling daily inconveniences as crises to preserve organizational capacity for actual emergencies.
• •Trust Bank Principle: Build trust through small consistent moments before crisis hits—acknowledging contributions, checking on personal situations, showing up reliably. Leaders who wait until crisis to build trust find stakeholders unwilling to help when needed most.
• •Communication Three C's Framework: Effective crisis communication requires three elements—communicate transparently and frequently, demonstrate competence through actions, and honor the psychological contract with stakeholders. Communication alone without other leadership competencies proves insufficient during crisis.
• •Global Mindset Requirement: All significant crises have global implications regardless of origin point. Leaders must frame responses considering cultural context, international impacts, and broader community needs rather than viewing challenges through narrow geographic or organizational lenses.