Abstract:

The purpose of this paper is to determine the managerial communication optimizing factors in crisis times, with lenses of assertive communication and empowerment through emotional intelligence. By using the communication skills and empathy, also the relationships' creation ability, one may influence other people's behaviors. In stressed times, the intensity of fear and hope, truth and fake news, firmness and generosity, decision-making speed and their impact, professional and personal experiences and feelings have unprecedented power.

The research is a comparative analysis of adaptive communication in pandemics of a leading market for-profit organization of 100 employees in the industrial field, and a national footprint non-profit organization in education. Structured interviews were run with relevant actors, identifying several common elements . Firstly, the loyalty for organizational vision and mission was respected, doubled by unprecedented transparency and intensity of communication. Secondly, all internal and external stakeholders were addressed, assuring the continuity on short and long-term of the collaboration. Thirdly, all types of available communication methods and channels were used and employees, as well as close collaborators, were accelerated trained. The noticed differences were based on factors depending on industry and jobs’ type allowing remote work or not, and financial power of the organization.