Staying Centered in Chaotic Times
We have all experienced two notable recent events, the riot at the US Capitol on January 6th, and the inauguration of a new president. Coupled with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this has led to feelings of uncertainty, and you certainly can be excused if you may sometimes feel a bit disoriented and stressed. This may be a helpful time to reflect back on these events, consider what we can learn from them, as well as deal with some of the mixed emotions they may engender.
The events culminating in the intrusion into the US Capitol building serves as a reminder that emotion-based decision–making and planning can sometimes lead to unintended consequences. Vague direction or guidance from a leader can result in a team going off track, head in an unanticipated direction, or step outside preferred boundaries and parameters. At its worst, we have seen this can lead to uncontrolled mob behavior.
What to learn from this? Leaders and managers need to stay very aware that their words and communication, implicit or explicit, can have great impact. This is especially the case when team members have a deep sense of loyalty or commitment to the team leader. While this may not apply to a rally, but in our usual company and organizational settings, an effective leader clarifies what the audience has heard, how they have interpreted the speaker’s input, and there is a pause to endorse, clarify, or edit the original message. In self-management terms, it is aiming to respond, not just react.
The inauguration, in one sense, was an example of a thoughtful, established and ultimately effective, succession plan. Even in this instance where there were some direct and indirect challenges to the process, adherence to this succession plan demonstrated the resiliency of our democratic institutions. Even if you may not agree with the outcome based on your political beliefs, there is some comfort, and stability, in experiencing this transfer of power and leadership. Companies and businesses that do not take a structured approach to succession planning, wait or delay, or approach this haphazardly, can find themselves facing chaotic or unintended outcomes, and results that are not the best for the organization, employees, and customers or clients.
So, on a personal level, I hope you can take some comfort that even in these frequently unnerving times, there is some continuity and consistency to our country’s institutions and democratic processes, even when these are severely challenged. As a leader, manager, or team member, remember to employ rational decision-making, and consider and weigh alternatives and options, as a consistent part of your approach to solving problems, setting goals, and meeting challenges. This includes considering the impact of your communication, and behavior, on others.
At an organizational level, remember the benefits to planning ahead for new leadership, clarify and plan for how this will be facilitated, and stick to an established process. As we continue to cope with a high level of uncertainty and unexpected challenges, let’s consider ways to work together towards common, and positive, shared goals and objectives, lean on each other for support, and be sure that we use our heads while we also listen to our hearts.
