As tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, a growing sense of uncertainty grips communities and workplaces alike. In times of national emergency—especially one fuelled by war or conflict—leaders play a pivotal role in guiding their teams with clarity, calm, and compassion. Whether you’re leading a multinational enterprise or a small local business, your words and actions can significantly impact how your employees respond to the unfolding crisis.

Here are 10 practical, actionable, and empathetic things leaders must say and do to support employees during emergencies, especially in panic-inducing situations like war:

1. Prioritise safety 

This message must be non-negotiable and communicated immediately. Leaders should reassure employees that no deadline or task outweighs their personal safety or the safety of their families.

Temporarily suspend non-essential operations, especially in vulnerable regions. Consider relocating staff or encouraging remote work wherever possible. Share emergency contact numbers and evacuation routes if applicable.

2. Enable work-from-home 

Remote work is no longer a perk—during emergencies, it's a necessity. Leaders must be quick to implement or expand WFH protocols to reduce exposure to risk.

Ensure that employees have the tools they need to work remotely—laptops, VPN access, collaboration platforms, and emergency stipends for internet/data. Acknowledge that productivity may be affected and that’s okay.

3. Discourage misinformation 

In war-like situations, misinformation spreads like wildfire, especially on social media. Leaders must take a clear stand against fake news and conspiracy theories.

Share a list of verified government and media outlets for updates (e.g., PIB India, NDMA, official armed forces handles). Set up a dedicated internal group where employees can ask questions or seek clarification without fear.

4. Advise employees not to post defence-related activity 

While patriotism is natural during conflict, posting real-time army movement, videos of sirens, or bunkers can unintentionally aid the enemy and breach national security laws.

Conduct a quick virtual session or send an advisory reminding teams not to post sensitive content. Reiterate that even forwarding such messages can have legal consequences.

5. Create or share a personal emergency kit checklist

Employees may not be prepared for a sudden escalation. Leaders can share or circulate a basic emergency preparedness list, encouraging calm action instead of panic.

Emergency kit essentials:

• Battery-powered torch
  
  

• Power bank
  
  

• Personal medicines
  
  

• Copies of ID & important documents
  
  

• Bottled water and packaged food
  
  

• Emergency contact numbers (printed & saved offline)
  
  

• Basic cash
  
  

If you have a distributed workforce, tailor suggestions based on location-specific risks.

6. Guide employees to enable emergency alerts on phones

Many employees may not know how to activate or check emergency notifications on their smartphones.

Provide a simple guide:

• For Android: Settings → Safety & Emergency → Wireless Emergency Alerts → Enable “Extreme threats” & “Severe threats”
  
  

• For iPhone: Settings → Notifications → Government Alerts → Enable “Emergency Alerts” & “Public Safety Alerts”
  
  

This helps employees receive real-time government updates, even if internet connectivity is disrupted.

7. Offer mental health support

War and emergency scenarios trigger anxiety, fear, and even trauma. Leaders must normalise these emotions and offer genuine support.

If your company has an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), share access details. If not, point to verified helplines like iCall (9152987821) or Mpower’s 24x7 helpline (1800 120 820050). Allow for mental health days or reduced workload.

8. Communicate continuously 

Even if you don’t have all the answers, employees appreciate regular updates. Silence fuels uncertainty.

Schedule brief daily check-ins or updates. Share any organisational decisions (even if temporary) like office closures, travel suspensions, or hotline numbers. Keep it transparent and consistent.

9. Reinforce legal and ethical responsibilities

During conflict, it's easy for employees to get caught up in emotionally charged messaging or actions that may have unintended consequences.

Remind your teams about corporate social responsibility, ethical behaviour, and abiding by national laws—even on personal time. Share dos and don’ts in simple language, avoiding fear or authority-based tone.

10. Stay visible – “We’re in this together.”

In uncertain times, leaders must be seen and heard. This doesn’t mean having all the solutions, but being empathetic, accessible, and authentic.

Make yourself available via open office hours, live AMAs (ask-me-anything sessions), or just by sending a daily message. Use simple language. Lead by example—if you're encouraging calm, be calm.

A crisis is a test of leadership

Emergencies test not just operational readiness but the emotional and moral resilience of a company. A leader’s response—how they speak, what they prioritise, and what they ignore—becomes the cultural memory of the organisation.

While systems and SOPs help, human-centred leadership is what people will remember. This is not a time for optics. It’s a time for clarity, care, and courageous decisions.