Don’t Freeze. Take the Next Step. (#216)
The Confident Leader
BOOST YOUR LEADERSHIP IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
“My business is struggling. The economy is awful. I am barely hanging on. Things have to turn soon,” said Sean, the CEO of a real estate company. Two weeks later, something incredible happened.
“Showing up is half the battle.”
This Week’s Edition
When you don’t know what to do, focus on taking one step forward. Inertia often drives the next step.
Clarify Your Thinking
Sean’s situation was dire, and most of what was happening to his business was outside of his control. The only thing he could control was his response.
When someone like Sean faces challenging circumstances, the common reactions are fight, flight, or freeze. These are biological responses governed by our amygdala, the lowest form of our brain.
These responses are designed to keep us alive when our life is threatened. However, in business, these types of responses can often be fatal to success.
Old Thinking: Things are bad. I need to hunker down (fight) and get some work done. I can’t afford to do anything but focus on the business. I’m tempted to go home (flight) and curl up in the fetal position and wish it away (freeze).
New Thinking: Things are bad. I need to get some work done, and I need to seek support. I need to meet new people. I need to reconnect with former connections. I am going to say “yes” to opportunities to get out from under this struggle.
Thoughts Lead to Actions
Interestingly, Sean’s typical response is not typical. He doesn’t fight, flight, or freeze. He’s conditioned himself to resist those instinctual responses during challenging situations. He’s learned the best approach is to take a step forward.
Said another way, he shows up… no matter what. Showing up (even when you don’t feel like it) is half the battle.
For example, in the middle of his business challenges, Sean was invited to a luxury golf outing. Some might counsel him to decline this boondoggle and stay focused on the business at hand.
He said, “yes.” He went on the trip, met some interesting people, and had a good time.
A week after the trip, one of his tripmates invited him to lunch. He wanted to learn more about Sean and his business. This started a series of conversations that resulted in them joining forces to help Sean in his crucial moment of need.
Three steps to consider when faced with challenging situations:
Step 1: say “yes” to the invitation
Step 2: take a step forward
Step 3: show up
Taking one step at a time takes the pressure off of having to find the solution to the BIG problem right now and may give perspective to more manageable steps, getting where you need to be bit by bit.
Sean could never have guessed that he would meet his new partner on a bougie golf outing. His ingrained response to challenges is to continue to show up time and time again, no matter how dire the circumstances. In this instance, it saved the day.
The lesson for all leaders is, that no matter how bad your situation, there is always a solution. That solution is found in taking the next right step forward. Sometimes that step means playing golf. Sometimes it means just showing up when you don’t feel like it.
Boost Your Performance
Watch this week’s video to hear another story of a client who has added a mechanism for taking the next step. She’s building a new response routine to business challenges.
What’s Your Opinion?
How do you respond in challenging situations? Let me know: robin.pou@robinpou.com
If you are going to be a leader, you might as well be a good one. Don’t let doubt count you out. Have a confident week!
Robin Pou, Chief Advisor and Strategist
We live to make bad leadership extinct so forward this newsletter to others who strive to be confident leaders.
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What is “The Confident Leader”?
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, I began a video series called “Panic or Plan?” It was designed to equip leaders to navigate the doubt they experienced and to rise in the confidence they needed to lead during turbulent times. It took off. I then started this newsletter to equip leaders in the same fashion each week for the doubt that crashes across the bow of their leaderSHIP.
