The World Feels Unpredictable—Because It Is
War, inflation, global health threats, climate disasters, mass resignations, and AI disruption—these are not isolated events anymore. They’re overlapping. They’re constant. And they’ve led McKinsey to label this moment in history as a “perma-crisis.”
It’s not just about surviving one crisis. It’s about learning to lead through a world of ongoing crises.
In a study by McKinsey, 74% of global executives reported feeling unprepared to lead through volatility, while 69% of employees said they feel “unsafe” or unsure about what their company stands for.¹
That’s a trust problem. And it’s a leadership one.
Because in times of chaos, people don’t just need direction—they need reassurance, clarity, and human connection. They need adaptive leaders who can pivot quickly, communicate clearly, and inspire hope even when certainty is out of reach.
What Is an Adaptive Leader?
Adaptive leaders do something many others don’t: they stop pretending to know everything. Instead of holding onto control, they embrace change, listen well, and lead with humility and transparency.
This leadership style isn’t new. But it’s becoming non-negotiable in 2025.
The New Leadership Gap
You’ve probably heard this before: “Leadership is about making tough decisions.” But in perma-crisis mode, decisions are being made on incomplete data, under pressure, and in real-time. What separates good leaders from great ones now?
🧠 Agility – Can you respond quickly when plans fall apart?
💬 Communication – Can you speak the truth even when it’s uncomfortable?
❤️ Empathy – Can you sense what your people need—even if they’re not saying it?
Yet most leaders still default to command-and-control thinking. According to McKinsey, only 30% of managers are trained to lead through uncertainty, and many still cling to rigid systems when what’s needed is fluid, trust-based leadership.²
Why Trust Is Your Competitive Edge
Trust isn’t just a soft skill. It’s a survival strategy.
Let’s look at the numbers:
- Companies with high-trust cultures outperform their competitors by 286% in total return to shareholders.³
- In a PwC report, 79% of employees who trust their leaders are more motivated to do their best work.⁴
- In contrast, low-trust teams are 50% more likely to experience conflict and turnover.
Trust doesn’t happen automatically. It’s earned, daily, especially during crisis.
The RAPID Framework: Leading in Crisis with Confidence
To help leaders show up well in uncertain times, we use the RAPID Framework—a five-step method to lead with trust, speed, and clarity.
Reassure → Align → Prioritize → Inspire → Decide
Let’s break it down as a practical crash course for modern leaders.
1. REASSURE: Create Calm Before Control
Your first job in a crisis isn’t to solve the problem—it’s to steady the people.
✅ Ask Yourself:
- What does my team need to hear from me today?
- Am I being transparent or sugarcoating?
- Do my words reduce fear or amplify it?
💡 Mini Move:
Start every team meeting with a one-liner of reassurance:
“Here’s what we know. Here’s what we don’t. And here’s what we’re doing.”
📚 Case Example:
During the pandemic, a Filipino retail chain CEO made weekly Facebook Live updates to staff, openly discussing losses—but also highlighting small wins. It built immense trust, even as stores closed temporarily.
2. ALIGN: Point People Toward a Shared Reality
When things are moving fast, misalignment spreads faster. People start making assumptions. Silos form. Gossip takes over.
✅ Ask Yourself:
- What’s the real priority right now?
- Are all teams getting the same information?
- What’s the one message I want everyone to remember?
💡 Mini Move:
Use a “One Truth” message. Every crisis communication should end with one unifying sentence.
📚 Case Example:
A logistics company created a daily “Crisis Bulletin” email. No fluff—just key updates and one priority. It kept everyone aligned even while teams worked remotely and dealt with supply chain chaos.
3. PRIORITIZE: Do First Things First
In a crisis, everything can feel urgent. But not everything is important.
✅ Ask Yourself:
- What is the ONE thing we must do this week?
- What can we delegate, pause, or let go of?
- What would success look like 30 days from now?
💡 Mini Move:
Try the “Three Buckets” method:
- Now (must do today)
- Next (do within a week)
- Not Now (review next month)
📚 Case Example:
A manufacturing plant hit by delays chose to prioritize 3 clients with the highest lifetime value instead of rushing to serve all. By focusing effort, they met commitments and retained trust.
4. INSPIRE: Make Meaning Out of Chaos
Crisis has a strange way of creating deeper connection—if you let it.
✅ Ask Yourself:
- Am I modeling hope and purpose?
- What story can I tell that gives meaning to this struggle?
- Am I celebrating the team, even in small wins?
💡 Mini Move:
End every town hall with a story: a client saved, a team that adapted, a problem overcome.
📚 Case Example:
A BPO leader in Cebu turned a flood crisis into a bonding moment. They held a “Hero of the Week” spotlight for staff who went the extra mile, including one who paddled through waist-deep water to fix an internet box. It became a story of pride.
5. DECIDE: Move Forward with Confidence, Not Perfection
Waiting for perfect information means waiting too long. Crisis leadership demands clarity over certainty.
✅ Ask Yourself:
- What’s the best decision with what I know now?
- Who needs to be consulted quickly?
- How can I explain this choice clearly to the team?
💡 Mini Move:
Use the “One Voice Rule”: Once a decision is made, all leaders speak the same message—even if they had different opinions earlier.
📚 Case Example:
During a cybersecurity scare, a software company froze access to some client features while investigating. It was unpopular—but decisive. They explained the why. Clients respected the move, and trust grew.
Your Crisis Leadership Toolkit
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| “One Truth” Message | Prevents misalignment and rumors |
| Crisis Bulletin Email | Creates consistency and calm |
| Three Buckets | Helps focus on the right work |
| Hero of the Week | Builds morale during chaos |
| One Voice Rule | Maintains united leadership front |
Add these to your leadership toolkit. Use them whenever uncertainty strikes. Because it will.
From Chaos to Clarity: Leadership Lessons from McKinsey
McKinsey’s research on leading through crisis reveals key leadership behaviors that matter most:
| Behavior | Boost in Team Performance |
|---|---|
| Clarity in communication | +45% |
| Empathy and emotional support | +38% |
| Decisiveness under pressure | +33% |
| Consistent visibility | +40% |
In short, how you lead during the storm determines who follows you after.
Real Talk: Why Most Leaders Struggle with This
Let’s be honest. Crisis reveals the true depth of your leadership habits. If you:
- Hide behind data without connecting emotionally
- Avoid tough conversations
- Freeze or over-control under pressure
…you may unintentionally break trust instead of building it.
The good news? Trust can be rebuilt. And adaptive leadership can be trained.
A 5-Day Reset Plan for Crisis-Ready Leadership
Try this if you want to start leading with more adaptability and trust:
| Day | Action |
|---|---|
| Mon | Ask your team: “What’s the biggest blocker you’re facing?” |
| Tue | Share a “One Truth” message to clarify priorities |
| Wed | Let go of 2 non-critical tasks and explain why |
| Thu | Spotlight a team member who adapted well |
| Fri | Make one clear decision and communicate it with context |
Rinse. Repeat. Practice becomes presence. And presence builds trust.
What Happens When You Lead This Way?
When leaders apply the RAPID framework and focus on adaptive, trust-based leadership:
✔ Teams feel safer—and show up more creatively
✔ Decisions are made faster—with less second-guessing
✔ Culture strengthens—even during setbacks
✔ People stay—because they believe in the mission, and in you
Leadership is not about controlling the storm. It’s about becoming the anchor in it.
In Crisis, People Don’t Need a Hero—They Need a Human
If there’s one thing perma-crisis leadership teaches us, it’s this:
💡 Certainty isn’t possible. But clarity is.
💡 Perfection isn’t required. But presence is.
💡 The strongest leader isn’t the loudest—but the most trusted.
Let us help you or your organization build trust-ready leaders who thrive in uncertainty.
👉 Schedule a Crisis Leadership Assessment today. Contact Carl at
📩 carl@axelgabemc.com or 📞 0966.507-9136
How will your team remember your leadership when the next crisis hits?
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