We couldn’t be thankful enough for the privilege we, some of the staff at Haiti Awake, were given to participate at a two day conference organized by STEP (Seminaire de Theologie Evangelique de Port-au-Prince) where the speakers elaborated on the topic - "Leadership in Times of Crisis."
One of the things we had learned for the first time is a concept who had used by the Americans soldiers during the cold war -VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity). We learned that in time of crisis we can transform this to mean vision, understanding, clarity, agility/flexibility ) Something negative can become something positive.
We also talked about the characteristics of a healthy organization because if the leader is not healthy, they will produce unhealthy churches or unhealthy institutions.
Here are some of the characteristics:
1- we should have a common purpose , which is the reason for cooperation.
Once everyone knows where we are going we can have
2- clear roles , which is the strategy of the cooperation We can then trust everyone to do their roles.
3- accountability
4- solid relationships
5- excellent communication, etc…
Now, our role as leaders at Haiti Awake, at the church is to process those things, put them into practice in our ministry, teach them to other people, to other leaders for a better impact to advance God’s Kingdom.
We are so thankful to Haiti Awake and to our friend and ministry partner, Becky Graves, who made that possible for us.
Vorb Charles, Assistant Ground Director, had his own thoughts on the conference, as well.
We, some of the Haiti Awake’s staff, are having the opportunity to participate in a two-day conference organized by STEP, the seminary from which Steeve graduated.
We had two lecturers today on two different aspects of the subject “Leadership in Crisis Times.” We have learned a lot, and we were happy to know that we were doing right without knowing the concepts, particularly when one of the lecturers, Dr. Guilbaud St Cyr, said that we should build a team to face the crisis while the organization should keep on running its ordinary activities.
Crisis is not a bad thing, it brings opportunities. New leaders will emerge, new potential will appear. We learn to be proactive instead of being reactive as leaders. Leaders should also have to focus on the objective/goal of the organization, which will help them have a better disposition to innovate, to adapt themselves to the crisis and to take durable decisions.
I remember our response last year’s earthquake in the South Peninsula. We divided ourselves into three teams. One team went to the ground to evaluate the situation and to gather as much information as possible and see/figure out the best way to help. Another team stayed in Tabarre to keep the organization running and support the ground team and we had another team doing the fundraising and answering to donors’ questions. And now, a team is rebuilding while the regular activities of the organization are still running.
