When you face difficulties or challenges in life, what is the first thing you do?
Leaders today are facing daily issues in our perplexing world. The problems related to Covid-19 mandates, rising fuel costs, employment shortages, supply chain management, inflation, violence, theft, and this is just the beginning of the growing list.
Personally or professionally, facing challenges takes intentional steps to overcome the issues you face. One of the first things most of us would do is feel something about the challenge in front of us. An emotional response to situations is a natural first reaction. Maybe you are angry, sad, scared or all of these things mixed together.
The pressures placed on you to make decisions are high. Today everyone is watching, listening, and waiting to hear your decision, and if it is not what they want, a plan is ready to fight back. Even if you don’t make a decision, that is a decision. Everyone is on high alert and eager to argue with each other.
How do you respond to the issues you face in an environment where everyone seems to be ready to argue? Be confident in your beliefs, values, and a clear purpose in what you want to accomplish.
Challenges we face
- Provide us with feedback to understand all points of view
- Allows us to take responsibility for, and express our real emotions
- It helps us to identify areas we can appreciate that is going well
- Give us time to realize the gratitude we should have for all we do have
- Understand the importance of the learning, growth, and improvements we can make
We do not all have to agree. It is expected to have various opinions on an issue. It is almost always the first thing we do when we face a challenge is to respond with emotions. However, it should always be the process of having all voices heard with respect-a way to come to an agreement based on facts, evidence, and a democratic process.
My favorite book right now is Simple Truths of Leadership 52 Ways to Be a Servant Leader and Build Trust-Making Common Sense Common Practice by Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley. It comes down to common sense, respectful practices, and emotional-spiritual readiness.
“ People with humility don’t think less of themselves; they just think of themselves less.”-Ken Blanchard One of my favorite quotes from the book. If we can have humility in our approach, we can face our challenges.
I am taking a break for a couple of weeks before facing the next step in my cancer treatments. I began my medication but will start radiation in middle March. I am giving my body time to heal from surgery and adjust to the medication completely. We have choices in all we do, well I guess that is what people are asking for now around the globe. A choice.