There will come a time when every leader must respond to crisis.
When your revenue is trending up and clients are lining up outside the door, seemingly nothing and no one can get you down. It isn’t until one day — when the winning slows or temporarily stops — that you suddenly start noticing all the cracks that were invisible before. Your team, which was previously thriving, is now struggling, and morale is low.
Every entrepreneur has been here before. As I like to say, setbacks are inevitable. How you handle them is what determines your success.
It’s crucial to remember that in times of crisis, people want to huddle behind a leader. They look to those in higher positions to show them the true state of the operation and, more importantly, how to handle themselves.
They will model their behavior and attitude after you, so you have to make sure to set a worthy example.
First, set yourself right. Remind yourself that challenges are scary, but you have the talent, the team, and the dedication to handle whatever it is that’s going on — and come out better for it.
Reframe your thought pattern: These setbacks won’t break you. They’re merely going to show you all the areas you have to rework and be really intentional about.
Then it’s time to model correct behavior to your team.
Start by being honest with them. Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t have to hide every challenge and risk from your team. You can choose to be square with them and lay out your vision of how to handle this issue.
And here’s the important part: That vision doesn’t have to end up being the correct one. What matters is that you’re communicating with your team and showing them that you’re actively planning to solve the problem.
Most importantly, show them that you’re committed through actions, not just words.
Instead of picking up lunch, bringing in donuts, or giving motivational speeches that don’t lead to anything, get back into the trenches with them. Stay with them well past 5 PM. Be the one who comes in on the weekends.
I often talk about the need to delegate and work on your business as opposed to in it. This is the one time you can disregard that piece of advice.
When going through adversity, it’s important to show your team that you’re not above doing the grunt work alongside them.
In fact, go toward the thing that makes you most uncomfortable. That’s going to be the thing that requires your help the most.
Lastly, set small goals along the way. Tasks seem easier to accomplish once you break them down into tiny, achievable steps.
Maybe you determine that you need to start by increasing your conversion rate by a mere 5 percent. Set it. Then jump on calls along with your team, or maybe write up the script they need to use. Once you all accomplish the small goal together, as a team, the larger issue will seem easier to tackle, and the morale will get a boost.
Will it be easy? No. But is it doable? Absolutely. One small goal at a time.
Leaders aren’t made during prosperity. They’re cut in times of trouble. How you show up amid a storm will shape how your team shows up.
So pull yourself up by the bootstraps. Show up with humility and vulnerability. Lead and inspire.
