Lead In Stress

I remember the great line from the movie, Apollo 13 when NASA’s Chief Flight Director, Gene Kranz, overheard one of the NASA Directors say to another Director, “I know what the problems are Henry. This could be the worst disaster NASA’s ever experienced.” To which Kranz interrupted and replied, “With all due respect, sir, I believe this is gonna be our finest hour.” It is a powerful scene because it captures leadership at its best when it is needed most.

Certainly, your stress experiences are similar. By nature, stress evokes our fear response and our first reaction is to fight, flee or freeze. Our brain’s limbic system goes into overdrive in order to keep us safe from risk and danger. But sometimes we have to rise above our natural drive for safety to confront stressful situations differently. How we respond is a demonstration of how much we have honed our ability to manage ourselves in uncertain and overwhelming times. Gene Kranz demonstrated a leader presence that the NASA Director was unable to call up. What was the difference?

A Better Response

Obviously, in order to call up a better response that counters your natural inclinations doesn’t just happen. You can do it only because you know your tendencies and have consciously worked on managing yourself in those times.

This is why some leaders rise above others—they have developed their ability to call up their best leader-self. What perspective, skills and motivations do you call up when you need to manage your stress? Your ability to do so is what makes you rise up—or not.

Examples

For instance, in the height of your season and there is a pile of work in front of you, who do you become? When your staff disappoint you by submitting shoddy work that is late, who do you become? When you are treated unfairly by your supervisor or client because they haven’t taken the time to understand the whole situation, who do you become? These are the moments when you notice who you are and ask if this is your best leader-self? Could you respond differently that is more in keeping with who you aspire to be?

Stressed leaders do this. That’s how they continue to lead effectively, especially in difficult times. Regardless of your age or position, continue to assess, learn and grow. Your world needs you to call up your best self.