On May 22nd, CYRENZH members Melanie Knieps and Thierry Schaltegger shared psychological insights on factors influencing decision-making during crises with the cybersecurity experts at the Swiss Cyber Circle. Of particular interest was the role of personality traits in crises. The takeaway of the exchange was:
- Personality: What constitutes a crisis is highly subjective. While individuals who score high on neuroticism tend to struggle more with stress management during a crisis, their cautious nature and adherence to rules significantly contribute to the team both during but also before and after the crisis.
- Team Matching: Build a team that complements your personality weaknesses. Surrounding yourself with individuals whose strengths counterbalance your weaknesses creates a more resilient and effective team dynamic.
- Training: Engage in targeted training to develop necessary skills. This includes mental training, coaching, and self-reflection, which enhance your ability to manage stress and perform under pressure.
- Preparation: Reduce uncertainties by thorough preparation. At the group and organizational level, identifying core values and developing simple heuristics have shown to aid decision-making under uncertainty. Training and simulation exercises help mitigate unexpected elements in a crisis, increasing confidence and control.
By focusing on these strategies, you cannot only enhance your own stress management skills but also empower your team to thrive in high-pressure situations. The exchange showed that not only diversity in skills and experience but also diversity in personalities adds to the cyber resilience and crisis management.