Resilient leadership is built on a solid foundation: it requires a healthy mindset to take the most prudent steps.
You certainly don’t have to look far to see leaders regard immediate action, any action, as a step in the right direction. This is faulty, dangerous thinking.
Before any action plan is initiated, great leaders ensure the proper conditions are established within the organization. Steadiness in the culture—in the corporate mentality—is essential. I’ve seen this in my coaching practice: as the leader enhances their own mindset, they inspire staff, especially management.
This lays the foundation for your leadership initiative to become everyone’s initiative. Employee engagement—ownership by everyone and dedication of everyone—is needed to see things through.
Anyone who has faced setbacks knows that removing obstacles takes persistence. Roadblocks don’t disappear, and there are no magic wands. Only facing it head on will suffice. Endurance training for everyone is crucial. Quitting is not an option.
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil platform disaster of 2011 was a classic example of leadership not following this principle. Responses were stalled, uncoordinated and unaccountable to the public, the government, and the families. A solid foundation of initiative and prudence was clearly missing. Trust in BP plummeted, and the poisoning of the environment far exceeded what was considered up to that point as tragic.
When you chart a strong course with structured steps for staff to follow, overcoming adversity is more manageable and less stressful. If more leaders would learn this preliminary process, more crises would be overcome well. This is the meat of an effective setback defeat.
What do you think? When faced with a crisis or setback in your organization, will a solid foundation be in place?
I’d love to hear from you. You can call me at 561-582-6060; let’s talk. And as always, I can be reached here or on LinkedIn.
