Ten Ways to Lead Your Department in a Crisis

There's no greater test of an IT department—or your leadership abilities—than during a crisis. Whether it's a crippling budget cut, a blown deadline or a project that isn't meeting expectations, you'll be forever evaluated by your ability to respond with intelligent and effectively executed strategies. It always helps to keep a cool head during these trials by fire, so your employees don't lose confidence because you're clearly rattled. The book The Leader's Pocket Guide: 101 Indispensable Tools, Tips, and Techniques for Any Situation (Amacom/available now), presents a blueprint for success in times both good and bad. The following 10 tips, however, are especially helpful during the latter. Ultimately, author John Baldoni reasons that integrity and substance-driven initiatives—rather than attempting to skate by a troubling situation with smoke and mirrors—will best serve you and your department. Baldoni is president of Baldoni Consulting LLC, a leadership development and executive coaching firm.