Leaders Perception Magazine is currently running an interview series called – Leadership in Times of Crisis
Today, we had the opportunity to interview David Reid who is a Sales Directorat Vem tools.
In this exclusive interview, we sit down with David Reid, Sales Director at VEM Tooling, one of the world’s fastest-growing mold manufacturers. David shares his insights and experiences on successfully navigating crises, drawing from his leadership role during a significant security data breach that affected the company’s client-related data. Discover the strategies he employed, the lessons he learned, and his valuable advice for leaders facing challenging situations.
Interviewee Name: David Reid
Company: Vem tools
David Reid’s favourite quote: One of my all time favorite quote is from Robert Frost “The only way out is through.” I look back to this quote whenever I find myself in a crisis situation and it gives me the strength to face the unforeseen circumstances.
The Interview
Thank you so much for joining us today! Tell us a little bit about yourself. What is your backstory?
David Reid : I’m David Reid, Sales Director at VEM Tooling (https://www.vem-tooling.com/), one of the fastest-growing mold manufacturers in the world. We currently operate in over 5 countries with an aim to grow across borders. We have served multiple businesses including giants from Automobile, Steel, and other production houses.
Could you please share a specific crisis situation you’ve faced as a leader and walk us through the strategies you employed to navigate through it successfully? What were the key decisions and actions you took, and what were the outcomes or lessons learned from that experience?
David Reid : Yes, I do want to discuss a crisis that happened a year ago. As a result of security data breaches we had, many of our client-related data were lost. I oversee a significant amount of our client connections because I work in sales, which was really detrimental to our entire company. I had to lead us out of that crisis, so I employed many essential strategies to navigate it successfully. Since they build trust among team members and stakeholders and keep them informed about the situation and the steps being taken to remedy it, communication and transparency were my top goals.
I then made hasty, deliberate decisions. I gathered all necessary information, used professionals when needed for advise, and quickly resolved the urgent problems. I understand the importance of striking a balance between effectiveness and accuracy while also considering the possible outcomes of each decision.
I learned from this experience that I must always keep an eye on all organizational activities in order to avoid making mistakes again.
From your observations, what common mistakes or pitfalls have you seen leaders fall into during a crisis?
David Reid : I believe these are some of the mistakes leaders make which make them fall into a crisis situation:
Lack of transparency: In times of crisis, leaders frequently undervalue the value of being open and honest. People who are affected may become confused, anxious, and lose trust if timely and accurate information is not provided.
Delays in decision-making: During a crisis, leaders may feel overpowered by how complex the situation is or worry that they will make the wrong choice. Delays in acting may result from this, which may worsen the situation and make it more difficult to respond appropriately.
Failure to adapt and learn: During crises, leaders frequently need to act and think in ways that they may not be used to. Some leaders find it difficult to change their plans or leadership style in response to the changing conditions.
Leaders Perception would like to thank David Reid and Vem tools for the time dedicated to completing this interview and sharing their valuable insights with our readers!
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