How the Best Leaders Thrive in Tough Times
As the pressure mounts, the best senior leaders learn to equally prioritize four key aspects of their leadership.
When I was a kid, I often heard two sayings that really resonated with me. “Adversity builds character.” and “That which doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” These sayings gave me the extra fuel I needed when I faced tough times and challenges because I believed they would make me better and stronger.
Then I grew up.
Working in a high-pressure environment that required lots of flexibility, resilience and strength, I watched fellow employees begin to self-destruct in the face of big challenges. I remember a deep philosophical conversation with a wise leader at the time. She told me that those old sayings I’d always heard weren’t exactly true. “Adversity doesn’t build character but it REVEALS the character that is already there. And the challenges we face don’t necessarily make us stronger, they allow us to access our potential strength from within,” she said. I hadn’t thought of it that way but I was definitely seeing it play out all around me.
The last year has been one of these types of times… a time to see what people are made of and to recognize their potential strength. This is especially true for leaders and even more so with ‘Leaders of Leaders.’
In 2020, I conducted a series of interviews with dozens of leaders to understand their most pressing leadership issues and observations they were witnessing around them. One of the most significant themes that emerged was the need for proactive conscious leadership. Leaders who only focused on the problem of the day or the ‘work’ of the organization were struggling more than leaders who took a different approach.
In tough times, the impact of existing poor leadership behaviors are magnified. AND even good leaders can lapse into undesirable behaviors that create problems.
I discovered several trends that led us to create a simple framework to illustrate the well rounded approach great leaders take for effective long term leadership success.
Many leaders focus the majority of their time and energy on the day-to-day work connected to their specific role. This short-term focus can generate positive results but carries negative long term consequences. Executing and integrating all areas of our framework helps leaders reach beyond short term work needs to deliver maximum effectiveness and impact while creating the best experience for all.
What does this framework look like?
Imagine that you are standing on an invisible 3-legged stool. The structure and strength of which provides you the stability and power to perform. Each leg must be as strong as the others. No single leg is more important. In order to stand on the top, all the legs must be level and stable. The more strength you need in your role, the more important it is that your stool is strong and steady.
Let’s explore each element of a strong leadership stool.
Top of Stool: At the top of the stool is an area I call “THE WORK.” This is the portion of a leader’s work life that receives the most attention from the CEO and the board. For instance, the CFO must ensure that the financial responsibilities of the organization are under control. “The work” is typically the centerpiece of the executive’s role and, as such, typically receives most of their time and attention.
Leg 1 The Right Mentality & Approach. The first pillar of an executive leader's foundation is their "mentality and approach." This involves how leaders perceive themselves, their work, and their interactions with others. It includes prioritizing long-term goals over short-term gains, balancing vision with execution, and emphasizing possibilities over problems. Cultivating a beginner's mindset of curiosity and a willingness to learn fosters open-mindedness and adaptability in leaders when facing challenges.
Leg 2 Managing Self. Giving appropriate attention to yourself and the example you set. While it all starts here, this is the area that’s often neglected the most. Without a proactive, intentional approach to self, work will always be a struggle AND life will be unfulfilling at best. The best leaders truly understand themselves and are consistently fine-tuning. They seek ongoing feedback and put it into action for better results.
Leg 3 Other People. As a leader, the way we interact with others is paramount to our success, the success of our team, department and the organization. In addition to general communication behaviors, this includes relationship building, considering other perspectives, respecting boundaries and helping others grow and develop long term.
Right Approach & Balanced Integration. The best leaders make time for this framework's top-of stool and all three legs through a balanced and integrated approach. In our work, we carve out space to ensure attention is put on all these important legs. This leads to less overall urgency as the leader intentionally resets how he/she approaches ‘The Work’ portion of the role. As a result, everything becomes clearer and he/she begins to execute more effectively while making a much greater long term impact on both the system and the people connected to it. You don’t necessarily have to hire an executive coach for this but you must be proactive and intentional in your approach.
What does a leader do with this framework? How does an organization address these types of gaps with the leaders who are facing them? Every situation and leader is unique; referencing a proven, reliable process can ensure the leader's intentions lead to better outcomes.
I encourage every leader to put some thought into these concepts. Reflect on how well you are embracing each leg of the framework. Know that this article only hits the high points of these concepts. You can find an indexed set of resources that includes action plans and detailed findings from the study by visiting my 2020 Study Results.
Or if you’d like to discuss your specific situation related to these topics, let’s connect.
