I’ve heard many of my coaching clients tell me how they work well under pressure or how they’re good in a crisis, and they are. But it’s not just them, you can scale-up this adaptability and see how ‘stepping-up’ in a crisis is a very human trait. As the Christchurch earthquake hit and then unfolded on our TV screens, in pictures and footage you see everywhere people stepping up, not just managing the crisis, but leading through it.

Leadership through crisis

Minutes after the earthquake and shaken people do what they can to pull others from danger. This first clip I saw was of a one young man heaving aside large blocks of concrete to get to someone below. Others take the lead, guiding friends and strangers to safety.

Within hours International Search and Rescue teams are mobilising in readiness to fly to New Zealand and join local teams, police and armed services already in full rescue mode.

Day three after the earthquake and a volunteer army of 15,000 students have registered to get the hands dirty and lend support to the city and it’s suburbs.

And Bob Parker, Mayor of Christchurch guides the whole of New Zealand away from hysteria with his calm and collected updates of the crisis, keeping us all informed of the mounting effort to save lives. In such reassuring terms, reflected in his words and in his face, you can see and hear humanities immense capacity for compassion.

A time to acknowledge

As the dust of the earthquake continues to settle, we need to take time to acknowledge just how capable we are to be there for each other in times of need. In my mind, it’s this compassion that defines what it is to be human. Maybe through these disasters we become closer and stronger, and with this kind of collaboration and strength the future can only be bright.

Our hearts go out to those who’ve lost loved ones in Christchurch and our thanks goes to those who’ve stepped up in a time of need.

About the author

David Savage is a Leadership Coach based in Wellington New Zealand. He uses a brain based methodology that fast-tracks learning and development that gives his clients the tools and templates to increase their potential and meet their ambitions.