Crisis Leadership: Coronavirus Edition

Join decorated crisis management expert and mentor to leaders, politicians, and executives, Dr. Charles Casto as he unpacks how we can meet the unprecedented challenge of the Coronavirus epidemic. Subscribe now to get all episodes immediately. Find more immersive non-fiction audio stories that engage and amaze: Diversion Podcasts  

Leaders often miss the signals of a pending extreme crisis event. When our imagination fails us and leaders have an unwillingness to face facts, those signals are neglected. This episode compares the readiness information available before the Fukushima nuclear disaster to the readiness information available before the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic crisis. In both cases, leaders failed to imagine the worst—and unless leaders can imagine the consequences, readiness fails. Hear more engaging shows at DiversionPodcasts.com A Diversion Podcasts original series. Diversion brings real stories to life.

If you can't get ahead of an extreme event, it will cascade out of control. An effective extreme response structure leads to effective strategies and decision-making. This episode discusses how the unified command at Fukushima is a lesson for the Coronavirus/COVID-19 response. Through use of a unified command roadmap and effectively sharing it, leaders can outpace the speed of the crisis. To succeed, leaders must rapidly move through the crawl, walk, run cycle. Hear more engaging shows at DiversionPodcasts.com A Diversion Podcasts original series. Diversion brings real stories to life.

Lives depend on moment-to-moment decisions. Even when they lack essential information in the face of uncertainty, crisis leaders must develop a shared mental model and practice "nonlinear leadership." This episode discusses the importance of anchoring decisions in facts, balancing the unknown with the known, and establishing goalposts. By using nonlinear thinking, leaders can bring wisdom and solutions to a crisis response and avoid acting too late, endangering more people than is absolutely necessary, and losing lives. Hear more engaging shows at DiversionPodcasts.com A Diversion Podcasts original series. Diversion brings real stories to life.

This episode examines risk communications used to address the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most important nontechnical responsibilities of crisis leaders. Given the invisible nature of this enemy—a deadly virus—there are difficulties in communicating the response message. Hear more engaging shows at DiversionPodcasts.com A Diversion Podcasts original series. Diversion brings real stories to life.

Understand the six stages of extreme crises and how leadership must approach this progression. We should never underestimate the power of emotions during an extreme crisis. Learn how “death anxiety” impacts the ability to lead. One of Fukushima’s greatest lessons is the extent to which leaders were overwhelmed with the conditions on the ground—the sheer scale of the crisis. Now, with Coronavirus/COVID-19, understanding the stages and their progression can guide leaders to make effective decisions. Hear more engaging shows at DiversionPodcasts.com A Diversion Podcasts original series. Diversion brings real stories to life.