Episode 41

VITALS Matter – Reading People When It Counts

When a crisis hits, the leaders who move fastest aren’t the ones clinging to the org chart. They’re the ones who know exactly who their people really are.

In this episode, Maartje van Krieken shares a look at crisis leadership and what it truly demands. When volatility takes over, can you still see the emotional and mental state of your team? Or are you relying on titles and job descriptions that no longer fit the situation? Maartje explains why spotting who has the energy, trust, and alignment to step up can make or break your recovery. She also points to sobering Gallup research that shows how unseen employees weaken organizational resilience long before a crisis even hits.

To give leaders a clear starting point, Maartje introduces the “VITALS” framework, a quick diagnostic to help you assess your people’s readiness without guesswork. Who is leaning in? Who has gone silent? Who still sees the bigger picture? Understanding these signals can help you find the right people to move things forward when it matters most.

Maartje also challenges leaders to rethink the comfort of rigid structures. Could your second-in-command have more gas in the tank than your senior lead? Would pairing a high-trust junior with an overwhelmed manager give you new momentum? With smart strategies like cross-placement and short-term task forces, she shows how to strengthen employee engagement in volatility and create a culture that can bend without breaking.

If you want to lead through uncertainty with more clarity and speed, it starts by seeing your people before you reach for the org chart.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Seeing Your People in Crisis

01:03 Employee Well-Being and Engagement in Volatility

02:30 Why Structure Fails During Crisis

04:07 Introducing the VITALS Framework

09:10 Using VITALS for Quick Diagnostics

10:57 Recognizing Burnout and Stress Signals

12:12 Creative Strategies Beyond the Org Chart

16:17 Building Organizational Resilience with VITALS

18:32 Getting Support from Internal Partners

20:01 Leading Through Crisis with True Visibility