How do you respond in fear or crisis plays directly in to your ability to lead and work well with others. While it is better and healthier to act out of love and not act out in fear, the reactions of people in the worst of times can give you a sense of how they will handle present and future issues when things go bad.
Many times we have no idea how to answer the question, how do you respond in fear or crisis, because many businesses that are starting up usually are not starting in a place of crisis. This is a good thing in some ways, but in others, it does not allow you to know how those around you will be able to handle things when the going gets rough, or tough or even dangerous.
While everyone has the best intentions and claims they can act the right way, sometimes, it can be helpful to ask about personal aspects or communication issues that they have had in the past.
Do they blame others for problems of the past? Do they seem to be zeroed in on what was happening to them and not seemingly share about how others were being affected? These can be tell tell signs of those that act in a fear or in a more selfish state.
Again, it is impossible to know how people will react in those times. And as crazy as it sounds, I feel better when something comes up because it gives the true measure of a man or a woman and how they handle themselves and others in crisis. In the meantime, do what you can to find out what is possible so you know how to position people as well as knowing who you can count on in those more difficult times.