Grace Under Fire – Tools to Lead Through Trying Times – Thought Changer

“We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.” ~ John Gardner, Author

During trying times sometimes troublesome situations at work do seem mountainous and insurmountable: shrinking budgets, staffs, client lists, time, etc.  As a leader you’re likely facing the daily charge of producing more with less.

A key leadership attribute is demonstrating “Grace Under Fire”.  And, here are a few tools for helping you get there.

  • Utilize Filter Statements – A filter statement, like “it is what it is”, “this too shall pass”, or “it’s a moment in time”, filters the largess of the situation and immediately accomplishes two things.   

  1. It brings people into the present moment narrowing the lens through which you look at the circumstance, so they don’t compound it into something it isn’t  
  2. It centers the conversation, putting a calming prospective to things and allows you to get back to focusing on the problem rather than any ancillary side effects that you have no control over 

  • Control Emotions – This is where the notion of Emotional Intelligence comes into play.  Author Daniel Goleman wrote in his still relevant book, “Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ.”  It’s a controversial subject debated by scientists and academics alike, but thematically EI creates strong leaders.  So, take time to recognize and manage your own emotions.  

  1. Understand your own emotions through self-awareness – slow down and check in with yourself before you react.  Learn your own touchstones.  
  2. Study the emotions of those around you – read the room and those in it.  Manage the way you handle emotions – it enables you to handle conflict and to be the most effective with peers and subordinates.

Margaret Thatcher said, “To wear your heart on your sleeve isn’t a very good plan; you should wear it inside, where it functions best.”  

In other words, utilize your emotions in a positive way.

Practicing grace in a grizzly situation is a brilliant way to control it and will position you as a go-to person when it comes to problem solving and dealing with conflict.  Not a bad position to be in!