847.849.2800
Contact
Imagine your business, a $200 million operation, vanishing overnight. Not a slow decline. Not a market shift. A sudden, devastating wipeout. That’s the reality Paul Hardy faced. He’s a seasoned executive who found himself at the epicenter of an avian flu outbreak in 2022.
Ultimately, the company, one of the biggest producers in the country, destroyed more than 5 million birds.
In eight days.
This isn’t just a story about managing in a crisis; it’s a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and the human cost of extraordinary decisions.
“It was the first time that I faced an invisible force that I had zero control over.”
– Paul Hardy
Hardy’s words cut through the jargon of business strategy. This wasn’t about spreadsheets and projections; it was about confronting an invisible enemy and making impossible choices. “Managing in a crisis” seems like an understatement when you’re dealing with consequences that ripple through your team, your community, and your own conscience.
The Anatomy of a Disaster
The company had been doing everything it could to keep the avian flu at bay – from requiring workers to wash their boots before boarding the company bus to prevent lateral transmission to posting guys with shotguns on the property to scare off wild birds that might otherwise land on the farm’s ponds.
It wasn’t enough.
He got the call at 8 am on March 17: There were more than 300 birds dead in Barn 3. By 6 pm, they had confirmed the cause: avian flu.
They immediately had to shift from a bio-secure facility designed to keep viruses out to one that could keep the virus in. The timeline was brutal: euthanize 5.3 million birds in eight days. Logistics were a nightmare: 400 people working 12-hour shifts. 35 pieces of heavy equipment. 10 miles of compost piles. All of it happening under relentless, punishing Iowa winter weather – rain, sleet, snow, and 70 mph winds.
Humanity in the Face of the Inhumane
Hardy’s account isn’t just about numbers and logistics; it’s about the people. He faced his team that day with brutal honesty. Despite their best efforts, the virus had arrived. The job they had expected to do that day was not the job the company needed them to do now.
“You don’t have to do this,” he told them. “Here’s what we know. Here’s what we’re up against. Here’s what we need.”
Nearly every employee stayed. If they couldn’t do the physical work, they worked in the office, canceling contracts with customers and suppliers.
“Everybody had choices. But this team is so resourceful.” Hardy’s voice cracks as he recalls the moment. “We wouldn’t have survived without it.”
Lessons from the Trenches: A Master Class on Managing in a Crisis
- Transparency is Paramount: When chaos reigns, communicate, communicate, communicate. Hardy drafted letters to employees, suppliers, and customers, keeping them informed every step of the way.
- Empathy and Presence: He lived at the plant for 13 days, sharing the burden with his team. “Most importantly, being present, listening to people.”
- Courage is Essential: “Courage is the essence of good leadership, authentic, human.” Hardy’s honesty and vulnerability built trust and rallied his team.
- Resourcefulness and Collaboration: The crisis demanded unprecedented collaboration. From employees to customers to local farmers, everyone stepped up.
- Turn Adversity into Opportunity: The lessons learned allowed the company to recover faster than anyone anticipated, eliminating long-term debt and exceeding expectations.
A Call to Action
In a crisis, leaders aren’t defined by their titles or their balance sheets. They’re defined by their humanity, their courage, and their ability to inspire hope. As Hardy’s experience demonstrates, even in the darkest of times, the human spirit can prevail. This is a powerful lesson for any executive and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Read More:
- Strategy-Focused CEOs See Growth and Opportunity Even in Crisis
- Your Complete Guide to Interim Management
________
Is your company in crisis? Engaging an experienced interim executive who has been there and done that is the fastest way through the fog. Call or text us at +1-847-849-2800 for a confidential conversation about how we can help you find a battle-tested executive who can be on site in as little as 48 hours.
