What makes someone a great leader during a crisis? In this episode of Hidden Brain, psychologist Adam Galinsky examines contrasting approaches to crisis leadership. He explores examples of ineffective leaders paralyzed by fear, like the disastrous Costa Concordia shipwreck, versus leaders who remain calm and decisive, such as the Thai soccer team's coach and heroic pilot Tammy Jo Shultz.
Galinsky identifies key traits effective leaders exhibit—from instilling hope and resilience in others, to drawing on prior training to take decisive action. The episode delves into the "amplification effect" where a leader's composed demeanor can reassure those around them and what Galinsky calls "terry cloth leaders"—highly skilled yet also deeply caring individuals who combine competence with genuine empathy.
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Psychologist Adam Galinsky observes how Costa Concordia captain Francesco Cetino's misguided priorities, like protecting his reputation over passenger safety, exemplify ineffective crisis leadership. Cetino delayed rescue efforts, tried covering up mistakes, and ultimately abandoned ship while passengers struggled—actions driven by panic, selfishness, and total denial of responsibility. Galinsky notes that such negligence stems from leaders becoming paralyzed by fear and acting solely out of self-interest rather than concern for those they should protect.
In contrast, the Thai soccer team's Coach Ek demonstrated remarkable crisis leadership when his team became trapped in a flooded cave. Coach Ek worked tirelessly to find an escape, instituted hopeful routines like singing, and provided individualized support through techniques like meditation—a skill from his Buddhist monk training. Galinsky states Coach Ek's cautious language and optimistic narratives shaped the team's resilient mindset.
Coach Ek employed practices from difficult past experiences to help the team endure deprivation. Galinsky says Coach Ek's trauma and monastic life taught him to adapt calmly to harsh conditions—an approach Galinsky likens to "controlling one's sails in unpredictable winds."
In another case, pilot Tammy Jo Schultz drew from her training to take decisive actions like strategically landing near fire trucks after an engine explosion. Galinsky describes the "leader amplification effect" where a leader's calm demeanor, like Schultz maintaining normal vitals, has an "infectious effect" reassuring others.
Galinsky calls leaders like Schultz "terry cloth leaders"—highly skilled yet deeply caring. She combined expert maneuvering with checking on each passenger, showcasing the importance of competence and empathy in effective crisis leadership.
1-Page Summary
The case of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia and its captain, Francesco Cittino, exemplifies the catastrophic results of ineffective crisis leadership fraught with panic, selfishness, and a denial of responsibility.
When the Costa Concordia, carrying more than 3,000 passengers and 1,000 crew members, struck a reef, it left a massive gash in the ship's hull and precipitated a chaotic and perilous situation. Captain Francesco Cittino failed to respond appropriately to the emergency—he delayed alerting the authorities and focused on concocting a story to absolve himself of responsibility rather than organizing an immediate rescue operation. This inaction and his refusal to supervise the evacuation led to significant delays in rescue efforts.
Further compounding the disaster, Cittino claimed an accidental fall into a lifeboat was the reason for his early abandonment. Once aboard the lifeboat, he made no effort to return to the vessel, arguing that he could coordinate the rescue from his position—a claim that held little weight given the unfolding tragedy on the cruise ship. This self-preserving decision by Cittino not only betrayed the trust placed in him as captain but also contributed to the tragic loss of 32 lives.
Cetino not only steered the ship toward dangerous waters without good reason but also prioritized changing out of his uniform to avoid being recognized as the captain by others in the lifeboat. His actions following the ship’s collision—his delays, denials, and self-focused behavior—were staggering in their irresponsibility and led to his conviction and a 16-year prison sentence for multiple counts, including manslaughter and abandoning ship.
Psychologist Adam Galinsky observes that Cetino's preoccupation with self-image and defending his reputation overwhelmed his capacity to lead effectively ...
Ineffective crisis leadership: The psychology of panic, selfishness, and denial of responsibility
When facing a crisis, effective leadership can mean the difference between despair and hope, chaos and calm. An inspiring example of such leadership is provided by Coach Ek, who led his soccer team through an ordeal when they became trapped in a flooded cave.
After becoming unexpectedly trapped by a severe downpour, Coach Ek spurred his team to dig through the roof of the cave to escape. He inspired action by working tirelessly, even to the point of injury, and instituted a singing routine to maintain morale. Coach Ek ensured the team had a structured schedule and collected clean water for survival. He gave individual attention to encourage the team members and led meditation sessions, which was essential in conserving energy and oxygen as levels ran low.
The language a leader uses during a crisis can shape the team's emotional response. Coach Ek avoided words like "trapped" that might incite panic, instead maintaining an environment of calmness, strength, optimism, and hope. His cautious language, combined with narratives of hope, like describing what they would do once they escaped, helped sustain the boys through their ordeal.
Coach Ek's training as a Buddhist monk equipped him with the tools to effectively manage stress and maintain morale in the face of deprivation. Fasting and meditation, practices he learned in his training, allowed him and the boys to survive low provisions and helped conserve oxygen. His experience taught them to accept their situation while controlling their reaction ...
Effective crisis leadership: Strategies for maintaining calm, providing hope, and enabling others
The way people respond to emergencies can be significantly influenced by their prior experiences and the training they have received, with remarkable examples like pilot Tammy Jo Schultz's handling of an in-flight crisis.
When the left engine of her plane exploded and tore a hole in the aircraft's side, Tammy Jo Schultz drew upon her prior experience and training to remain calm under pressure. She took immediate and decisive actions, such as landing the plane next to fire trucks as a precaution against fire and adjusting the wing flaps to help passengers exit quickly if necessary. After landing, she communicated with each passenger individually, providing comfort and reassurance, including to a little girl whom she made feel special.
The "leader amplification effect," as described by Adam Galinsky, is a phenomenon where a leader's emotional state can significantly influence their team. Galinsky illustrates that recalling experiences of being in control can induce physiological changes, decreasing stress and making leaders feel more in control. Tammy Jo Schultz returned to flying shortly after the incident demonstrating her confidence in flying, thus influencing others’ perceptions and reactions. Her calm conduct amidst the chaos had an infectious effect, transforming passengers' panic into a sense of possibility.
Tammy Jo Schultz embodies the merging of competence with caring—an essential combination in effective leadership. With passengers sending goodbye messages in the belief that they ...
The role of prior experiences and training in shaping how people respond to emergencies
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