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If you are a leader, you know the swampy lowlands. You know crisis. At such a time, it is not the external crisis that is the challenge. The greatest challenge is the crisis inside you. You feel hopeless and helpless. You blame others rather than shouldering your responsibility as the leader. You desire a way out rather than leading the way through. Your mind gets trapped in one way thinking. You are overwhelmed.
Here are the symptoms of a leader who is overwhelmed:
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-You stop discussing difficult issues and problems.
-You increase criticism and blame others.
-You believe others are incompetent and lazy.
-You isolate yourself.
-You focus on survival and self-interest. |
-You set up a “me vs. them” mentality.
-You are afraid to take action.
-You lower your goals and give up on your dreams.
-Your negativity infects everyone else.
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Face the mess. Face the inner crisis of avoidance with courageous responsibility.
A mess is something that has landed in your lap and it is your
responsibility to deal with it. You need the courage of responsibility
because you feel the enticement of avoidance. It is tempting to
believe, “I can’t do anything about it and I don’t care.” You may
remain there for awhile enjoying the feeling and false refuge. However,
when you are ready to lead again, dip into the well of inner courage
and take responsibility, “I do care and I can do something about it.”
Now, you are a leader.
Turn the mess into a defined situation. Turn the inner crisis
of blame into the courage to learn. Look back. Trace the history.
Gather the facts. As much as possible, uncover root causes. You may
feel like blaming and complaining, accusing and fault finding. Although
culpability may be present, the ultimate responsibility for dealing
with the situation is yours. You are the leader. Blame will not move
you toward a solution. You need the inner courage to learn. Discover
and address the underlying dynamics and issues. Discover the deeper
cause that is more significant and more important than individual blame.
Turn the situation into a manageable problem. Replace the get rid
of it attitude with the valor to get on with it. A situation is
something you live with, but a problem is something you can solve. Look
forward. Focus on creating positive outcomes. Get rid of it is your
attitude for a while. You feel like getting rid of a whole list of
things. Underneath, you want to get rid of the mess. You are asking,
“How do I make this go away?” It is an understandable thinking pattern,
but it is not leadership. When you lead, you are challenged to get on
with it. The leader’s question is “How can I solve this problem in such
a way that it moves the organization where it needs to go?” To answer
this question, ask yourself:
- What can I control? Focus on what you can control rather than what is beyond your control.
- Who can I turn to for help? Reach for positive help rather than languishing in destructive isolation.
- What positive contribution can I make? Act from strength rather than wallowing in weakness.
- What will I create out of this? Embrace your vision rather than submitting to the situation.
New key problems will emerge. Prioritize them. Now you have a way to
deal with the crisis. You have problems. And, problems have solutions.
Turn a problem into a targeted solution. Shift from
one way thinking into best way thinking. Choose a course of action. The
inner challenge is to avoid one way thinking in favor of best way
thinking. One way thinking is a trap. You see only one way to deal with
it. When you are ready to lead, search for the best way. Entertain the
impractical, wild, and crazy ideas. Turn to trusted advisors. Collect
ideas from those closest to the problem. You will find the solution
that is best for your business.
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