The Power of Positive Leadership in Critical Economic Times
Turn on the TV or pick up any newspaper today and you will get beaten over the head with news of the current economic crisis. As consumers and professionals we are being overwhelmed with negative news and fearful conversations hyping the issues of the global nature of this economic crisis. But with the bombardment of negative news and fearful conversations leaders must still lead.
How do we do that?
During a time of crisis a leader’s greatest enemy is fear
During a crisis most people respond from their gut, displaying the emotion of fear. This is a natural response, sometimes called the “flight or flee” response. The emotion of fear can be very useful - primarily to protect us from any imposing dangers. However, many people have developed the habit of responding to any crisis situation from the basis of a fear-response, and that poses three significant problems for leaders:
- Fear can paralyze productive activity. Fear can create negative attitudes and initiate plummeting morale. When morale and motivation fail our business may suffer a reduction in positive, productive actions.
- Fear attracts and supports failure. People with negative attitudes often find comfort in failure. Fear-based failure offers an easy and comfortable excuse to quit, point blame, or procrastinate. These negative energies feed on each other and create a vicious cycle.
- Fear eliminates ownership of possible solutions. Fear destroys creative energy and innovation. Fear causes people to think of themselves as victims and victims have no solutions. Fear stifles the risk-taking that can lead to breakthroughs.
How do effective leaders respond to the natural, human emotion of fear? The effective leader knows that there are only two options in responding to crisis…
Take positive actions or submit to negative beliefs
Those leaders who submit to their negative beliefs nullify their leadership position by joining the ranks of the fearful. When a leader responds to crisis with the emotion of fear, their position as leader is no longer effective. The leader has chosen to simply join the crowd, and any attempts at leading will be overlooked by those who are expected to follow.
The effective leader knows that there is only one productive option in responding to crisis… take positive actions! We have to consistently fight our natural response to fear because effective leadership demands positive, productive, and effective actions.
This current economic crisis will be a serious test for effective leaders. In challenging times like these, the effective leader must overcome the fear-based response and lead with positive action plans and consistent high-pay-off activities. Focus on the vital 20% - those activities that bring in the most revenue.
Which steps will you take to increase your market-presence to lead your team and your business to success?
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Comments
Stephen - there is so much positivity in the blogosphere and small business world! When do you think the mainstream media is going to notice. (rhetorical question) Another indicator of their irrelevancy.
Steps to increase market presence: Strong communication that contains positive, warm messages to customers, franchisees and prospective customers. If small is the new big, then, we will be too small to fail. Howard Lindzon coined that, and Seth Godin picked up on it. Big companies do better when they act small - you can measure them by customer service response mode. The crisis itself is so big as to be mind-boggling. Better to do what you are able to do in your own sphere.
Thanks for coming by Betsy, I appreciate your input.I agree that it is so very important to do the best that you can in your own sphere!
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