The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS COV-2) has spread across the world over the past eight months, infecting millions and killing hundreds of thousands. The impact on healthcare institutions during the coronavirus-2019 pandemic has been considerable, with exhaustion of institutional and personal protective equipment resources during local outbreaks and crushing financial consequences for many institutions. Establishing adaptive principles of leadership is necessary during crises, fostering rapid decision-making and workflow modifications, while a rapid review of data must determine necessary course corrections. This manuscript describes concepts of crisis leadership teams that can help maximize their effectiveness during the current and future pandemics.