Leading Through Crisis: My Perspective on Organizational Resilience and Executive Decision-Making in Higher Education

When you spend your career inside institutions—whether in athletics, advancement, operations, or senior administrative leadership—you quickly learn that crises are not the exceptions. They are part of the DNA of higher education. Financial pressures, leadership transitions, enrollment volatility, public scrutiny, and the rapidly shifting landscape of college athletics create an environment where stability must be intentionally built, not assumed.

Over the years, I’ve learned that the foundation of crisis leadership is preparation. No executive ever expects the moment a crisis arrives, but strong leaders build systems that allow institutions to respond quickly, communicate effectively, and recover intelligently. Resilience is not something you “switch on” during a crisis; it’s built through culture, alignment, and proactive planning long before challenges surface.

The first step in leading through crisis is clarity. When an institution faces uncertainty—whether it’s a public incident, financial challenge, donor issue, athletic controversy, or campus-wide transition—people immediately seek direction. In those moments, I believe leaders must communicate early, consistently, and transparently. Silence creates confusion; clarity creates stability.

My leadership philosophy emphasizes calm decision-making. In crisis environments, people take their emotional cues from leadership. When leaders remain composed, teams respond with confidence. I have always prioritized grounding decisions in facts, data, and mission alignment. Emotional decision-making escalates problems; disciplined decision-making solves them.

Another key principle is understanding that crisis leadership is not solitary work. Successful crisis responses require coordinated action between communications, legal counsel, advancement, athletics, student affairs, and executive leadership. I make sure that the right voices are in the room so decisions benefit from broad expertise and institutional perspective.

During difficult moments, relationships matter more than ever. I’ve always maintained that trust—earned slowly over time—is the currency that allows leaders to guide institutions through adversity. When relationships with donors, board members, coaches, faculty, and staff are strong, people grant leaders the grace and confidence necessary to navigate challenges. When relationships are weak, crises become far more destabilizing.

I also believe crises reveal culture. Institutions with strong cultures rally. Teams look for ways to help each other. Students support one another. Staff lean into the mission. Leaders who invest in culture long before crises occur will see that investment pay dividends when leadership is truly tested.

One of the most overlooked aspects of crisis leadership is what happens afterward. Strong institutions perform honest evaluations, identify lessons learned, and implement structural improvements so future crises can be handled with greater strength and agility. I have always emphasized the importance of reflection after resolution—not for criticism, but for growth.

Over the years, I’ve found that the institutions that thrive are those that approach crisis not as a threat but as an opportunity to reinforce values, strengthen systems, and unify their communities. Crisis leadership, when practiced with composure, clarity, and integrity, becomes one of the most powerful demonstrations of executive character.

At every institution I’ve served, I’ve been committed to building cultures of resilience—where people feel secure, supported, and aligned with the mission even in the most challenging moments. That is the core of crisis leadership, and it remains one of the defining responsibilities of any senior leader.

Further Reading

• Leadership Through Personal Accountability
https://www.dr-brian-wickstrom.com/leadership-through-personal-accountability

• Ethical Leadership & Organizational Trust
https://www.dr-brian-wickstrom.com/ethical-leadership-accountability

• Executive Leadership Philosophy
https://www.dr-brian-wickstrom.com/executive-leadership-philosophy