# Executive Leadership Training > Eight modular crisis leadership sessions that build crisis intelligence, decision-making, communication, and recovery capabilities for executive teams. *This content is available in full at: https://www.fixinc.io/executive-leadership-training* ## Overview Executive Leadership Training is an eight-module program designed for senior leaders and executive teams who are responsible for steering organisations through major disruptions and crises. The program focuses on developing crisis intelligence, structured decision-making under pressure, effective communication, and post-crisis recovery planning. Each module is delivered by specialists in crisis management, leadership, organisational psychology, media, and organisational change. The training uses case studies from Oceania, ASEAN, and other regions, alongside benchmarking tools that allow participants to track their development across 127 crisis-related competencies. The full program typically consists of eight sessions, each around three hours in length, and can be run as an intensive series, in-house program, or integrated into existing leadership development pathways. Modules are interchangeable and can be selected according to an organisation's current resilience maturity. ## Program Snapshot The Executive Leadership Training program is structured around four key dimensions: - **Modules:** Eight modular and interchangeable sessions that can be delivered individually or as a complete program - **Length:** Approximately three hours per session, allowing for discussion, scenarios, and reflection - **Audience:** Senior leadership and executive teams, including board members or key decision-makers where appropriate - **Competencies:** 127 crisis-related competencies are covered across the eight modules, mapped to leadership, decision-making, communication, human factors, and recovery The training uses experiential learning methods, interactive case studies, and structured tools so participants can apply concepts to their organisation's context. ## Need for Executive Crisis Training Research and recent crises indicate that executive teams often lack regular exposure to realistic crisis simulations and structured training: - Reporting cited by Fixinc notes that a relatively small portion of executives undertake annual crisis simulation or exercise activity - A global survey reported that a large majority of business leaders felt their organisation's crisis management capabilities required improvement These findings highlight that many leadership teams operate with untested plans, unclear decision pathways, or limited shared understanding of roles during a major incident. Executive Leadership Training addresses this by providing an experiential environment focused on decisions, impacts, and leadership behaviour under stress. ## Case Study: Boeing 737 MAX A key example used to illustrate executive crisis leadership risks is the Boeing 737 MAX crisis. Following two fatal accidents in 2018 and 2019 linked to an automated flight control system, the organisation's response was widely criticised. Then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg's handling of the crisis, including defensive public statements, limited transparency, and perceived prioritisation of financial and reputational concerns over safety, contributed to erosion of trust. The 737 MAX fleet was grounded for nearly two years, resulting in extensive financial losses through compensation, legal settlements, and production disruption, and culminating in leadership change at the top of the organisation. This case is used to demonstrate how executive behaviour, communication, and decision-making during a crisis can significantly magnify or mitigate long-term damage to brand, finances, and stakeholder confidence. ## Delivery Format and Approach The Executive Leadership Training program is designed as a flexible, modular experience with several delivery options: - **Intensive public sessions:** Scheduled programs bringing together leaders from multiple organisations for shared learning - **In-house programs:** Tailored delivery for a single organisation's leadership team, using scenarios and language aligned to its operations and sector - **Individual development:** Selected modules may be integrated into personal development plans for senior managers or future executives The learning approach emphasises: - Realistic crisis scenarios and case studies - Participant reflection on current capability and leadership style - Tools and frameworks that can be adopted into internal crisis, continuity, and incident management structures - Benchmarking of leadership and team capability across the program ## Course Modules The Executive Leadership Training program consists of eight modules. Each module can be delivered independently or as part of the full series, depending on organisational needs and current maturity. Total training time for all modules is approximately 24 hours. ### 1. Foundations of Crisis Management This module provides an introductory framework for understanding crisis management in the current global context. It considers the influence of geopolitical tension, environmental disruption, social polarisation, economic instability, and technological change on organisational risk and crisis exposure. Key themes include: - Definitions and characteristics of an organisational crisis - Criteria and conditions that justify activating a crisis response - The core components and success factors of effective crisis management - How this foundations module connects to the seven subsequent modules Participants gain a shared vocabulary for crisis management and an understanding of where crisis fits alongside incident management, emergency response, and business continuity. For module-specific discipline information: - [Foundations of Crisis Management](https://docs.fixinc.io/disciplines/foundations-of-crisis-management.md): Detailed view of scope and learning objectives. ### 2. Crisis Preparedness Planning This module focuses on the systems and planning activities that enable organisations to respond coherently to major events. It examines how well-structured crisis preparedness supports faster, more accurate executive decisions. Core topics include: - Essential components of an effective crisis management plan - Tools and templates that support stakeholder management and communication - Information requirements and critical questions to ensure decision-makers receive timely, accurate data - Integration points between crisis plans and related organisational plans (such as business continuity, emergency management, and IT disaster recovery) Leaders review how their current documentation, roles, and processes support or hinder effective crisis activation and coordination. Related material: - [Crisis Preparedness Planning](https://docs.fixinc.io/disciplines/crisis-preparedness-planning.md): Technical breakdown of planning structures. ### 3. Leadership in a Crisis This module explores what is required from leaders when operating under high-stakes, high-uncertainty conditions. Rather than focusing only on formal authority, it concentrates on behaviours and capabilities that maintain trust and drive effective response. Areas examined include: - Core competencies of an effective crisis leader (e.g., decisiveness, clarity, composure) - Common leadership pitfalls, such as indecision, avoidance, or inconsistent messaging - Expectations from different stakeholder groups, including staff, customers, regulators, media, and partners - Self-assessment exercises to help participants identify strengths and development areas Examples of military, public safety, and corporate leadership are used to show the implications of strong or weak crisis leadership on operational outcomes and organisational reputation. Further detail: - [Leadership in a Crisis](https://docs.fixinc.io/disciplines/leadership-in-a-crisis.md): Competency profile and module design. ### 4. Decision Making Under Pressure This module examines how stress, time pressure, and information gaps affect judgment and decision quality. It draws on behavioural science and practical experience to help leaders understand cognitive strain during crises. Key elements: - The relationship between stress, self-control, and cognitive effort in high-pressure environments - Typical decision-making errors under stress, such as tunnel vision, overconfidence, or paralysis - Tools and techniques to structure decisions, including checklists, decision matrices, and pre-defined thresholds - Practices to support individual and group decision quality when information is incomplete or rapidly changing Participants are introduced to methods for building more resilient decision processes into their crisis structures. For more: - [Decision Making Under Pressure](https://docs.fixinc.io/disciplines/decision-making-under-pressure.md): Frameworks and tools used in this module. ### 5. Crisis Communication Strategies This module focuses on communication during and after crises, especially at executive and spokesperson levels. It draws on high-profile examples where communication either mitigated or amplified reputational damage. Topics covered: - Common communication errors by crisis leaders and teams, such as minimising impacts, inconsistent messages, or insensitive language - How stress and time pressure can degrade communication clarity and empathy - Principles for communicating with different stakeholder groups (staff, customers, regulators, partners, media, and the public) - Preparing leaders and spokespeople for media engagement, public statements, and internal updates during crisis events Participants review case material where senior leaders' comments damaged trust, and analyse alternative approaches that would have better served the organisation and affected stakeholders. Related material: - [Crisis Communication Strategies](https://docs.fixinc.io/disciplines/crisis-communication-strategies.md): Communication frameworks and case examples. ### 6. The Human Side of a Crisis This module emphasises the human and psychological aspects of crisis events, which are often overlooked in traditional plans that focus predominantly on operational recovery. Main areas include: - Typical psychological reactions and behavioural responses individuals and teams may experience during and after major incidents - The effects of critical incident stress on performance, decision-making, and workplace relationships - Impacts of physical displacement, remote work, reputational events, and prolonged uncertainty on employee wellbeing and productivity - Practical strategies for leaders to support staff, manage workloads, and maintain realistic expectations during extended disruption The module encourages executives to consider how human factors influence every stage of response and recovery, not just initial incident handling. More information: - [The Human Side of a Crisis](https://docs.fixinc.io/disciplines/the-human-side-of-a-crisis.md): Psychological and organisational considerations. ### 7. Evaluating Crisis Impacts This module provides tools that help leaders assess when an incident becomes a crisis and how to evaluate its cross-organisational impacts. Key concepts: - Criteria and indicators for escalating from routine incident management into formal crisis management - A structured method for evaluating potential and actual impacts across financial, legal, human, reputational, and strategic dimensions - How impact assessments inform prioritisation of actions, allocation of resources, and external communications - Use of historical scenarios to demonstrate how early underestimation or misclassification of an incident can lead to long-term consequences Participants work through example situations to practise applying impact evaluation tools to their own context. Reference: - [Evaluating Crisis Impacts](https://docs.fixinc.io/disciplines/evaluating-crisis-impacts.md): Tools and templates for impact analysis. ### 8. Navigating Crisis Survival The final module links immediate crisis actions to the longer process of recovery and return to normal or new-normal operations. It explores how executive decisions in the early stages affect recovery options later. Topics include: - Key post-crisis actions that should be considered immediately once stability is reached - Recovery priorities, including service restoration, stakeholder engagement, and internal review - Common issues and delays that arise during the recovery phase, such as regulatory scrutiny, internal fatigue, or reputational repair - Integration of crisis lessons into revised plans, structures, and training programs Examples from national-level and organisational responses are used to illustrate how leadership during crises can support long-term recovery, not just short-term containment. Further reading: - [Navigating Crisis Survival](https://docs.fixinc.io/disciplines/navigating-crisis-survival.md): Detailed recovery and transition considerations. ## Implementation Steps A typical path to implementing Executive Leadership Training involves several stages: 1. **Discovery discussion:** An initial conversation to understand the organisation's context, current resilience maturity, and existing crisis, continuity, and incident arrangements. This discussion helps determine which modules are most relevant and how they should be sequenced. 2. **Program design and scope:** Based on the discovery work, Fixinc outlines a tailored module set, delivery format, and schedule. This includes a clear view of learning objectives, leadership roles to be included, and how the program will align with existing governance and documentation. 3. **Scheduling and logistics:** Dates, delivery locations (on-site, off-site, or blended), and participating cohorts are confirmed. Where appropriate, scenarios are customised to the organisation's sector, geography, and recent or emerging risks. 4. **Delivery and follow-up:** Modules are delivered using a mix of mini-lectures, facilitated discussion, case analysis, and practical exercises. After completion, a post-course summary and suggestions for next steps may be provided, such as additional exercises, documentation updates, or integration with other resilience programs. --- **View this page online:** https://www.fixinc.io/executive-leadership-training For program inquiries: [Contact Fixinc](https://www.fixinc.io/contact) | info@fixinc.org | +64 800 349 462