In critical transitions or emergency situations such as a market crash, many leaders become paralyzed. They begin minimizing risks and safeguarding as much of their operation as possible. All thoughts of moving forward or new initiatives end. Teams are left with a message to stay the course and end anything that is not absolutely essential. We saw this reaction from many leaders during the market crash of 2008.
This path of inaction and striving for security appears to make a lot of sense. After all, if things fall apart you want as much stability and as many resources as possible. But we must consider how our teams feel. Instead of reassurance from leaders, they are often given statements like “Let’s hope for the best.” Not very reassuring to those who hear it and are desperately looking for their leader to point the pathway forward.
If you look through history, the leaders we remember most are the ones who in fact spoke in times of great challenge. Martin Luther King Jr., “I have a Dream,” John Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” and Margaret Mead “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” No matter what issue we face, the voice of a solitary leader ripples out and becomes an enduring source of hope and direction.
Whether our challenges are large or small does not change the need for us to speak out. We need to be allies and advocates for what is right and what will lead us towards a better future. Every organization will face challenges at some point, whether those are internal or external to our organization. The key is how we address those challenges and whether we look for doors of opportunity in the midst.
Leaders need to not only reduce the risk that is present, but also assist your team in developing a strategy. Our efforts must support them — not only to survive the challenge, but to seize it as an opportunity to improvise, improve and grow. These strategies will become the fuel to energize your team and your organization.
