In today's unpredictable global environment, the ability to demonstrate exceptional leadership during crisis and organizational disruption is the ultimate test of an executive's capability. Unforeseen events—from economic downturns and technological failures to global pandemics and geopolitical shifts—can swiftly threaten an organization's stability and survival. This comprehensive training course is meticulously designed to equip leaders with the strategic foresight, psychological resilience, and practical tools needed to navigate extreme uncertainty, make high-stakes decisions under pressure, and guide their teams through turbulent times with unwavering confidence.

This intensive five-day program moves beyond theoretical concepts to offer a hands-on blueprint for effective crisis response and resilient organizational management. Participants will learn how to diagnose complex challenges rapidly, communicate with clarity and empathy amidst chaos, and foster a culture of adaptability and psychological safety. By the end of this masterclass, you will possess the strategic insights and practical tools to lead your organization not only through any crisis but also to emerge stronger, more agile, and better prepared for future disruptions.

Duration: 5 days

Target Audience:

• Senior Managers and Executives
• Crisis Management Team Leaders
• Business Continuity and Resilience Professionals
• Project and Program Managers
• Human Resources Business Partners
• Strategic Planners and Business Unit Leaders
• Communication and Public Relations Professionals
• Risk Management Professionals
• Board Members and Governance Professionals
• Anyone responsible for leading teams or organizations through significant disruption

Objectives:

• Understand the unique characteristics and lifecycle of organizational crises.
• Develop a strategic framework for leading effectively during periods of disruption.
• Master rapid decision-making techniques under extreme pressure and uncertainty.
• Cultivate a resilient leadership mindset and foster psychological safety in teams.
• Enhance crisis communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Learn to identify and address resistance and fear during times of turmoil.
• Build adaptable and self-organizing teams capable of thriving amidst chaos.
• Measure the impact of crisis leadership on organizational recovery and resilience.
• Create a personalized action plan for leading your organization through future crises.

Course Modules:

Module 1: The Anatomy of Crisis and Disruption

• Understanding different types of organizational crises (e.g., financial, operational, reputational)
• The lifecycle of a crisis: pre-crisis, crisis response, post-crisis
• The psychological impact of crisis on individuals and organizations
• Differentiating between a crisis, an issue, and a problem
• Case studies of high-profile organizational crises and their leadership responses

Module 2: Strategic Preparedness and Scenario Planning

• Developing a comprehensive crisis preparedness framework
• The role of strategic foresight and early warning systems
• Conducting scenario planning and war-gaming exercises for potential disruptions
• Identifying critical vulnerabilities and building a risk register
• Establishing a crisis management team and command structure

Module 3: Rapid Decision-Making Under Pressure

• Principles of effective decision-making in high-stakes, ambiguous environments
• Understanding and mitigating cognitive biases during a crisis
• Techniques for gathering critical information quickly and efficiently
• The importance of decisive action and calculated risk-taking
• Leading a decision-making team through chaos

Module 4: Crisis Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

• Crafting clear, consistent, and empathetic messages during a crisis
• Communicating with internal and external stakeholders (employees, customers, media, regulators)
• Managing public perception and mitigating reputational damage
• The role of social media and digital channels in crisis communication
• Preparing spokespeople and conducting media training

Module 5: Leading with Empathy and Resilience

• Cultivating personal resilience as a leader during prolonged stress
• Fostering psychological safety and open communication in a crisis-ridden environment
• Supporting employee well-being and preventing burnout
• The importance of transparency and authenticity in leadership
• Building trust and maintaining morale amidst uncertainty

Module 6: Operational Continuity and Adaptive Systems

• Strategies for ensuring business continuity during disruption
• Adapting operations and processes to new realities
• Leveraging technology for resilience and remote work capabilities
• Empowering decentralized decision-making in distributed teams
• The role of agile principles in crisis response

Module 7: Post-Crisis Recovery and Learning

• Conducting a comprehensive post-crisis review and debrief
• Identifying lessons learned and areas for improvement
• Implementing organizational reforms and strengthening resilience
• Communicating recovery efforts and rebuilding trust
• Fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation for future challenges

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.