Why Trust Is the Core of Crisis Leadership

When a real crisis hits, people don’t follow job titles, they follow the people they trust.

That’s something Maj. Gen. Alfred Flowers has said many times, and it rings true in our field. During a crisis, your title doesn’t matter much. What matters is whether your team knows they can count on you.

In today’s world, where we’re dealing with cyber threats, AI, natural disasters, and all kinds of uncertainty, trust and leadership matter more than ever.

It’s Not Just About the Plan

In this issue of Disaster Recovery Journal, there’s a great article called, “The Resilience Disconnect: A C-suite Opportunity” by Margaret Millett. It talks about how business leaders don’t always connect the dots between resilience and the bigger picture.

And that’s on us.

Sometimes, we get caught up in the details, plans, frameworks, tests, and forget to show the real impact of what we do. If leadership doesn’t understand how our work helps the business stay open, protect customers, or avoid costly downtime, it’s hard for them to back us.

Building that trust means talking about what matters to them. And it means showing that we’re not just there to follow a checklist, we’re there to help the business stay strong when it counts.

AI Can Help, But It Can’t Lead

Another article, “Hidden AI Risks BCM Leaders Must Prepare for Now,” by Yuly Grosman, raises a question we’re all hearing: Is AI going to replace us?

Here’s the truth: AI might take over some tasks, like writing reports or sending reminders. But it won’t replace real leadership. It won’t calm a room or help a team focus during a high-pressure moment. Technology can only go so far.

As Jason Hoss puts it, “Think of AI not as a replacement, but as a force multiplier.” Use it to take work off your plate so you can focus on guiding people and making decisions.

It’s All About the Team

There’s another great article from Bob Klemme in this issue called “5 Steps to Build Strong, Resilient Teams That Deliver Results.” It’s a good reminder that no matter how solid your plan is, it’s the people who make things happen.

If your team isn’t ready, or if they don’t feel supported, the plan won’t matter.

That’s why we need to train, communicate, and lead in a way that builds confidence and trust—before anything goes wrong.

Let’s Talk About It in Dallas

We’ll dig into all of this and more at DRJ Fall 2025 in Dallas. We’ve packed the agenda with sessions on leadership, crisis planning, cyber risk, and team building. It’s our 73rd conference and it’s shaping up to be one of the most important yet.

Hope to see you there.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bob Arnold

Bob Arnold, MBCI (hon), is the president of Disaster Recovery Journal.