Being powerful during a crisis, pt 4

All great leadership begins with self-leadership – and now is a prime time for leaders at every level to elevate their thinking and ground themselves in the values that define the leader they aspire to be.

This could be compassionate, calm, courageous… what words embody your ideal leader?

Reflection

First, stop and reflect. It is something we rarely do, but it is exactly what is needed right now. Look back and acknowledge the struggles you have faced in the past – with yourself, your business, or with your family or team.

Maybe it was the loss of a family member, a failed business venture, not getting to vet school, losing your job… Look where you are now – you may have survived and moved forward, or are in the process of bouncing back.

Perhaps at that time, like we face now, it felt like you would never come through it. But you did – and you will.

This, too, will pass.

Competence and confidence

You have demonstrated greatness in the past, so acknowledge those moments of courage in your life and remember how you overcame those situations, as well as the exact steps you took along the way.

How can you use what you did then to help you now? How can you pull confidence and competence from those situations?

Take courageous actions every day. Confidence grows from developing competence – for some, it takes an act of courage to take action, to then help you build competence. This act of courage could be:

• enrolling on a course
• sitting an assessment
• learning something or trying something new
• forgiving someone
• pushing harder with your fitness
• reaching out and asking for help
• volunteering

In this together

Rally your team or family around a common purpose. We are all facing a common threat right now – and while we may not be coming together physically, let people around you know we are in this together and will get through this together.

This can build trust and strengthen relationships in ways that can never be done in calmer times.

Think of new ways to connect – a virtual dinner party, an online pub quiz, an internet fitness class, a virtual gallery tour – but use this incredible technology to still connect and collaborate.