You're It Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When It Matters Most

Four experts with the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard University provide the essential—and now newly updated—guide to becoming a more effective crisis leader while equipping yourself with the tools for everyday transformative leadership​

Today, every leader must be ready to lead through a crisis. In You’re It, the faculty from the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard University draws on their expansive field research to prepare leaders to respond to crisis events of all kinds. It features real-life stories of leaders facing national and global emergencies, including terrorist attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic, and operational crises such as product recalls and media controversies. The case studies demonstrate how leaders rose to the challenge—and ready you to do the same when a “You’re It” moment emerges for you.

This updated edition includes new material on the importance of character in effective crisis leadership.

You’re It is your reference and companion for leading through today’s turbulent times.

Leonard J. Marcus, PhD, is the founding director of the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative (NPLI) at Harvard. Eric J. McNulty, MA, is associate director of the NPLI. Dr. Barry Dorn, MD, MHCM, is senior advisor to the NPLI. Joseph M. Henderson, MPA, is a former distinguished senior fellow at the NPLI.