SAFE HARBOUR
In the harbour the waters are calm. It is the ideal time to build a solid foundation before you head out to the open sea with your crew. In today’s world, however, most companies are out at sea battling stormy weather with a somewhat wobbly foundation. So, as we all know from experience, it’s better late than never to build and command a ship that can withstand the weather on the open seas – and to have a seaworthy crew running that ship.
What does a seaworthy crew look like? It’s made up of people who are mentally flexible, have a can-do attitude, and are team players. Ideally, the crew is values-based and purpose-driven, allowing them to more easily tap into an inner strength that continuously pulls them toward a common vision and makes it easier to work through the challenges and obstacles they will face along the way.
So where to begin as a leader?
ABOVE ALL, BE HUMAN
What do you do in your personal life when the going gets rough? What helps me most is knowing that my family and friends are always there for me; these are people who know and believe in me. I can reach out to them at any time when facing a challenge and being unsure how to move forward. Sometimes it’s enough to have someone simply listen to me without judging or trying to fix the situation. Just verbalising a challenge has helped me gain clarity. A team should provide a similar quality of support. It should be a safe haven where each person is seen and heard, and there is a strong sense of connection and support for one another. As a leader, you also need to believe in your people and what they are capable of – and your people need to feel this. Demonstrate your trust by giving them the responsibility to do their job, knowing they will do a great job. They should feel comfortable coming to you or other team members when they need help.
STORMY WEATHER
Taking these actions will help you navigate stormy weather:
1. Stay calm.
To stay calm and keep a cool head in a crisis, you must recognise when your body is heading towards a fight-flight-freeze response due to mental, emotional, or physical stress – and be able to self-regulate. Various breathing techniques, such as box breathing, will return your nervous system to a regulated state (parasympathetic state), enabling you to make decisions from a clear frame of mind. Life gives you plenty of opportunities to practise: traffic jams, delayed flights, heavy workloads, and long meetings, so that conscious breathing can become second nature when you hit a crisis.
2. Communicate and make decisions with radical clarity and honesty while remaining compassionate (be human).
In the times we are living in now, no leader can afford to beat around the bush or ignore reality. As a leader, you must communicate what you know, what you don’t know, and what you are doing. Resources must be effectively focused. People must be able to trust you and have the feeling that we are all in the same boat – and that this is how we move forward together.
3. Avoid drama and blame.
Focus on the situation and the bare facts. Be able to separate facts from people’s stories about what happened and their interpretation of the events. Stop people when they begin to label or judge others. To avoid blame, focus on solutions and how to move forward. Do not tolerate finger-pointing or shaming. Encourage people to reflect on what happened, what their role was, and what lessons can be learned.
4. Be aware that emotions may run high.
In a crisis, people risk saying and doing things they normally wouldn’t. Be aware that people may let out their anger or frustration on “innocent bystanders”. You also never know what challenges someone may be facing in their personal life. Remain grounded and compassionate. Apologise when appropriate. Any training you can provide in emotional intelligence is worth it – neither emotional outbursts nor suppressing emotions are healthy for authentic collaboration.
5. Put a space between yourself and your reaction.
This helps you stay respectful. Pause before you speak or respond to an email. Do whatever it takes to get yourself back into a thinking frame of mind. This could be taking a walk outside, closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths, or giving yourself the time and space to respond in a thoughtful manner.
6. Remain flexible and be ready to adapt.
Be prepared when new information comes in. Sometimes the wind can change directions unexpectedly, and you need to adjust the sails. We are moving through uncharted waters; what worked last time may not work this time around.
7. Be visible and check in with people.
Ask how they are doing, how they are feeling, and listen with empathy and compassion. Acknowledge people’s efforts – a simple heartfelt thanks such as “Thank you, Mike, for getting the proposal in on time” can work wonders. Remember, people need to be seen, heard, and appreciated.
And last but not least:
Take regular breaks throughout the day and remind others to do the same!
