The Final Piece
Last time, I share with you some of the key elements of leadership in a crisis.
- People First
- Educate Yourself
- Be Flexible
- Leverage Your Team
- Communicate Judiciously
- Be Authentic
More important than knowing these elements, is how you integrate them into your personal and professional development.
What is the next step you should take?
Next, in this last part of the series, let’s hear more about what’s behind a crisis:
A crisis is quite common
We sometimes over-exaggerate our place in history. We think its “never been this bad before.” Look back in history.
Maxwell’s definition of a crisis is “an intense time of difficulty requiring a decision that will be at a turning point.” There are and will be a lot of turning point decisions being made. We will get through any crisis.
Don’t let those around make you think the “sky is falling.” That’s what poor leaders will do. Real leaders step up, are willing to fail, and take the initiative to move forward.
Yes, we just went through a crisis, but we pivoted. In my business, I had to quickly learn how to use remote and virtual tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
A crisis is distracting
A distraction pulls us away from the important and what a leader should be focusing on. Take the D-I-S off distraction and gain traction. Traction draws us forward to what we want. Traction means adding value to others, serving, and lifting.
Part of my purpose is to add more value to others than I received through my faith. My inspiration and motivation is feeding off of those around me, especially those who are looking to grow and influence.
Trying to control something you can’t control leads to anxiety.
I can control my attitude.
I can control my habits.
I can control how I use my 24 hours.
A crisis reveals what is inside of us
Our choices make us, but a crisis reveals us. We can’t moan and lead at the same time. Loss helps us to grow and mature. Leaders forge through loss by what they have inside.
Wisdom comes from dealing with your mess. Are you willing to fail, yet not be a failure?
Transformation is what is needed. Will you step out of your comfort zone?
Values rise to reveal what’s inside. Do you know your core values? They are foundational to who you are and how you lead.
When I run up against a challenge, I choose to focus on my core values to get me through the crisis. My values of optimism, trust, honesty, enthusiasm, and teamwork support me through any crisis.
A crisis requires adaptability
A crisis is a case study in uncertainty. We know that all coaches have a pre-game plan.
Coaches adapt. They don’t through everything out. They reinforce what is critical to success.
Coaches don’t look to blend in through conformity but adjust to succeed through adaptability. Adaptability is about adjusting your way to success and making changes for the better.
How are you adapting?
Do you relish change or run away from it?
A crisis is a time when real leaders step up
It’s time to step up. Maxwell says, “show up early, show up with clarity, and show up with hope.” They are clear about hope. And this clarity helps people get organized and prioritized.
In John’s book, Today Matters, he goes into detail about your daily and monthly agenda and how that impacts you and your team.
What do you think it means for a leader to show up early in times of crisis?
How are you making the most of your 24 hours?
Ed Bastian, Delta CEO, stepped up for his customers in an email that was published in Inc. magazine. In it, he used words like value, trust, preparing, relationships, learning, experience, response, transparency, core values, flexibility, and opportunities. Ed Bastian understands a crisis. He understands the core of his employees.
How will you take adversity and make it an opportunity?
Where will you go from here?
Take time to reflect on how you handled a crisis and how you might do it differently in the future. Look back on the questions I asked and write down your answers to better help you reflect.
I’d like to hear from you. What are your roadblocks? What questions do you have about what was presented? How did you answer the questions?
Let me know if you are interested in bringing more to your business or organization.
If you want to learn more about elevating your leadership, consider Live2Lead.
I am on a mission to revolutionize company culture through leadership, communication, teamwork, prioritization, company culture, talent attraction and retention, values or how to use DISC as a tool to enhance your internal term and relationships.
What do you need to move yourself forward toward your goals and habits?