Every leader experiences setbacks and adversity at times in their career – what matters is how well these setbacks are handled. There are specific methods leaders can make use of that will defuse setbacks, allow subsequent crises to be more manageable, and make for a stronger leader in the long run. Leaders can learn to conquer setbacks by using simple, logical steps to make their way through each difficulty. In last week’s blog post we covered several techniques for overcoming adversity. This week we will be focusing on the importance of having the right mindset.
The Right Mindset
When a leader gains a rational perception of a situation, it’s put into proper perspective. A useful perspective of a setback is one that doesn’t focus exclusively on negative emotions, but looks at the facts. A leader’s healthy viewpoint has logic and a sense of discernment to see things as they really are, not what they may appear to be.
The first step in dealing with a crisis is to remain calm. Composure not only helps with clarity, it has a positive effect on others. Worry only feeds on itself, and then it feeds on the leader.
A shaky emotional state, one of fear or anxiety, only makes the problem seem much worse. Instead, leaders who redirect distracting thoughts build the strongest mental positions.
The second step is to frame the trial accurately. Correct decisions can’t be made if the understanding of the issue is flawed. A leader’s thoughts must be stable and reliable. This takes discipline, but it can be learned, especially with the help of a seasoned coach.
Gathering data, other perspectives, and root causes are exercises a wise leader undertakes to get the facts and the most accurate picture of the problem. Without these prerequisites, no decisions or plan will be effective enough.
The third step is to make the situation as manageable as possible. A leader who breaks a crisis down into workable chunks finds the most effective solutions, fixing simpler things, one at a time. This permits even small successes to appear larger than the trial itself, which is a positive perspective.
An effective leader gets in the pattern of reevaluating after each chunk is dealt with. A day-by-day approach will keep emotions, tactics, and activities in check and on track. They focus on today: tomorrow will be addressed tomorrow.
With a positive outlook, the entire challenge is seen as an opportunity to learn, correct, prevent, and improve. Failure is not seen as a final verdict, but a step to the next success. Every leader fails. Great leaders don’t let failure take them down.
Ryan Holiday, The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumphs, encourages leaders to allow the trial to push them to be something greater, to grow their ability to think around roadblocks, and defeat things most people deem undefeatable. Let setbacks create a champion in you. In a sense, this ends up being more important than the trial itself. The trial is simply an advantage to be used by a crafty leader. This is perhaps the toughest mindset to adopt, but invaluable to do so.
I hope you’ve learned some valuable tools for dealing with setbacks and obstacles at work and in your personal life as well. If you find yourself in need of assistance developing the skills talked about in this week’s bog post, I am happy to be of assistance. As always, I would love to hear from you. I can be reached here or on LinkedIn.
I could not resist commenting. Well written!