Although it is an uncertain time for many businesses, leaders have a responsibility to guide their employees through the crisis with authenticity, resilience and a vision for the future.

Here are my top tips on how to be an effective leader during a crisis:

1. Stay calm and lead with confidence

In any crisis, anxiety and fear can run rampant, leading to decreased productivity and team morale. This climate leads to many employees looking upwards for reassurance. Leaders must show decisiveness and practise self-certainty – which has been shown to help people keep calm in adversity.

The NeuroLeadership Institute found that the more stressed you are, the less clearly you think. So rather than letting anxiety spread, let your sense of calm influence your team and help them maintain focus and productivity. Don’t let fear of making the wrong decision mean you don’t make a move – lead with confidence, even if you don’t have all the answers yet.