Communicate openly and honestly
A critical situation is not a good time to withhold information and behave in a non-transparent way. Though the situation may not be ideal, you should always be honest with your employees. Be transparent and tell it as it really is. Even bad but genuine news is better for employees than the uncertainty of whether management is being honest and if employees can really trust what the company is saying.
Do not neglect mental health support
As Entrepreneur.com states, in a crisis it is more important than ever to emphasise support for mental health at the workplace. Talk openly to your employees about mental health and teach them to take care of themselves. Be benevolent towards their needs, recommend them what to do if they feel unable to handle things, and build a safe and open environment in which employees will not be afraid to admit things are getting out of hand and they need help.
Prepare plans for critical situations and acquaint employees with it
To reduce uncertainty among employees, you should prepare strategies for various situations that might occur. And you should also fully acquaint employees with these plans. This way, employees will know what to expect and be able to prepare, both mentally and otherwise, for any future developments.
Do not neglect communication
In any crisis, it is above all crucial to maintain open and adequate communication, not only from the company to employees, but also from employees to the company. Managers should, more than ever, pay attention to one-on-one meetings with their staff; they should listen to them and rather overdo communication than underestimate it.
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