I was doing some research the other day and came across this old quote by John Maxwell, “Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.” This quote gives us a powerful principle relevant to leadership, especially as we navigate the complexities of the modern world. This quote underscores the importance of response or circumstance, suggesting that we can find the essence of leadership not in the challenges we face but in our reactions to those challenges. The core of effective leadership is rooted in our ability to manage our emotions, maintain composure, and choose our response that aligns with our long-term vision and values rather than being overwhelmed and providing an immediate turbulent response.
Evie’s Story
So, I want you to meet Evie, a passionate leader in a new business. Her company was on the verge of launching a new major product when a crucial piece of technology failed – argh! As one might expect, panic ensued throughout the team! Evie had two options: she could allow the situation to overwhelm her, thus making it more difficult for her to provide the team with the clarity of thinking they required, or she could focus on how to overcome the challenge in front of her, she chose to focus on overcoming the obstacles.
Here’s how she did it.
Mindful Awareness: When Evie felt the panic rise, she started with deep breaths, refusing to let the panic take control. Taking this mindful moment, Evie provided herself with time and space to approach the problem with clarity and calm.
Should something like this happen to you, there’s no shame in asking for a minute to think or taking yourself to the bathroom for some privacy to regain your composure.
Reframing Perspective: Rather than seeing this as a disaster, Evie took it as an opportunity to reframe it and test her resilience by consciously altering her interpretation of the situation to view it in a more manageable light.
As a leader, we use this technique to transform obstacles into opportunities, leveraging challenges as catalysts for growth and innovation.
Emotional Intelligence (EI): Recognising the team’s anxiety, Evie provided the team with reassurance and support, which boosted their confidence that they could manage the challenge ahead.
Recognising and acknowledging not only your emotions but the emotions of others is an important skill. By understanding the emotional landscape of the team, you can navigate interactions more effectively, fostering an environment of empathy and mutual support.
Strategic Pause: Evie called a team meeting to discuss potential solutions aligned with the business objectives before jumping in with both feet.
Implement a pause before immediately reacting and making an impulsive decision (although sometimes that may be called for). Being deliberate and pausing creates a buffer between the stimuli and your response, offering you time to consider various outcomes and align them to the bigger goals.
Diverse Perspectives: Evie proactively sought ideas from all the team members, encouraging a collaborative environment with diverse viewpoints.
Considering a broad spectrum of perspectives, you can pre-empt unilateral responses by the team instead of opting for reactions informed by a clear and comprehensive understanding of the situation.
Learning and Adaptability: The situation allowed Evie to learn with the team and refine their problem-solving and crisis-management approach.
The environment in which we work is ever-evolving, and so should our leadership strategies. Committing to continuous learning and remaining adaptable in the face of new information or changing circumstances ensures you can maintain relevance and effectiveness.
Positive Visualisation: Throughout the ordeal, Evie motivated herself and the team by visualising and communicating the launch’s success, keeping the spirits high and focused.
An NLP technique that is regularly used in sports to constructively prepare for challenges. By visualising successful outcomes and positive results, you can prime your mind to react in ways conducive to your visions. I can hear the dissenting voices. However, we spend much more time thinking about how it could go wrong; where’s the harm in thinking about how it could go right?
Concluding
Just like Evie, we all will face our share of challenges. The key lies not in the obstacles themselves but in how we respond to them.
By embracing some or all these strategies, we can lead with grace and effectiveness, regardless of what crosses our paths.
Remember, leadership isn’t solely about the unfolding events but how we navigate them. Embracing the principle that “Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it,” you can cultivate strategies that ensure your reactions contribute positively to your personal development, the well-being of your teams, and achieving your goals. When faced with your next curveball, think of Evie.