MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Looking for Opportunity in the Midst of Crisis

In nature, stampedes occur when herds of animals are fleeing the threats of predators. Likewise, among humans, we have countless examples of herd behavior, including riots, sporting events, and the hoarding of goods in times of crisis. As researchers who study organizations, we wondered whether the current economic panic concerning the COVID-19 pandemic was also leading to some (understandable) herd behavior among leaders.

In recent weeks, we surveyed 460 global executives on how they expect COVID-19 to affect their organizations in the short and long terms, where they have been focusing their attention, and what actions they have been taking. (See “The Research.”) We supplemented this with more in-depth discussions with a select group of 50 executives to better understand the nuances at play across different companies navigating the crisis.

About the Author

Michael Watkins is professor of leadership and organizational change at global business school IMD, cofounder of leadership consultancy Genesis, and author of The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter (Harvard Business Review Press, 2013). Michael Yaziji is professor of strategy and leadership at IMD.

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