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.
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-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.
Copyright (c) 2006 Richard Leslie Parrott, Ph.D.
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