Becoming Our Best
"CALM AND STEADY"
I'll bet that you have had at least one tough day in recent weeks or months when:
• Someone acted irrationally toward you.
• Unexpected bad news arrived at the worst possible time.
• You over-reacted to something someone said.
Watch what happens to yourself and others when these kinds of situations occur. We naturally tend to have thoughts like "Just say it!", "Whatever!" or "Follow your feelings." Do what your emotions lead you toward, don't think about the consequences and everything will be OK. But do feelings alone always provide the guidance the you and the team need for best long-term results?
It takes some thought and reflection to discern the long-term consequences of today's actions. And to determine if I'm becoming the kind of person the team can depend on. Usually when we do what's best from the longer perspective, we become better people and the best results occur for the group.
Most superior leaders tend to be in control of themselves and the situation, whatever is going on around them. Calm, involved and ready to act in a manner that's best for the team. How do they get that way? Here are some thoughts:
• Replace the angry emotion that sometimes wells up in a difficult moment with calmly trying to understand what's going on and developing a better course of action.
• When receiving bad news, separate the person from the problem. "Killing the messenger" who informs you of a hard situation just ensures that next time you won't get the news until the developing problem is out of control.
• Be the kind of person you want to be, whatever the other person or members of the group are doing. When you respond negatively, both you and the situation suffer.
• Keep the long view of things. In the worst cases, remember that "this too shall pass".
• Be ready to apologize when you're wrong. It nearly always helps.
When faced with a difficult situation, take the time to find out what the right response is, do it in the face of whatever odds, and watch your character develop. Then, when things get tough in the future, people will turn to you because of your record getting the best long-term results for the team and yourself.
Practice being calm and steady in the face of adversity. You'll be pleased with the results.
Author: Bruce Johnsen Management Consultant:
824 Munras Ave Suite G
Monterey, CA 93940
831-373-5969
bruce@brucejohnsen.com
Back to BOB Main