Heroes emerge from pressure cookers

The pressure cooker: effects of the economic downturn

As the pressure cooker that is business reality heats up you feel the squeeze. As the actual or perceived effects of the economic downturn edge closer to your sector and those around begin to squirm, you begin to feel things going beyond warm. As you try not to get distracted, external forces are demanding your attention and the pressure builds.

Leaders are born of these environments… isn’t it exciting?

Could you be the one who transforms through this time, being stronger, more skilful and leveraging your experience for future positive positioning?

Of course, you may say that it all depends on market forces, how your organisation is impacted and in turn how safe your position is. Sensible risk assessment practice dictates these to be useful considerations. However, if you are feeling the squeeze and want to take control consider the following…

Written leadership history, local leadership knowledge and your own experience will tell you that it is from this very environment (one of uncertainly) that leaders written about tomorrow emerge today. These leaders must have the emotional resilience, the will and skill to think and act rationally, decisively, with certainty and empathy.

I am sure you have heard it said that “It is not what happens to you, it is what you do about it”. My perspective is that this statement must be amended to add “And, provided you learn the lessons from the experience you will lead yourself to another level and be a hero, a role model for others”

There is a theme that runs through the experience of every person or team I work with as a coach and mentor, one that keenly complies with the common cycle of growth of the human psyche.

Personal Leadership

The origin of my fascination for this aspect of personal leadership growth sits within the research domain of one of my heroes, Joseph Campbell, who coined the phrase “the Hero’s Journey”. An American literary professor (come anthropologist) of the 1950s, Campbell was fascinated by the myths and legends across all societies and the common theme that connected them.

Borrowing from Campbell’s work of genius, I offer a summary of how I see the experience of how your leadership growth may occur:

1. You are called to serve – offered a position or perhaps a crisis to manage
2. You at first refuse the call – perhaps you think “That is not for me’ or “Let someone else do it”
3. You finally accept the call – “Okay I will do it”
4. You receive a gift – get the job, perhaps status and resources
5. You encounter the supreme ordeal – the pressure is on and you feel the squeeze “Why did I do this to myself?”
6. You use the gift – you do the job using all the resources you have, delegate and/or not, take a higher perspective and/or get bogged down, behave appropriately and/or inappropriately etc.
7. Achieve your quest – achieve objectives and breathe a sigh of relief
8. Get the real gift – reflect on the errors and wins, learn from the experience and grow in leadership skill
9. Get a new call!

N.B. Unless you do step 8, “Get the real gift”, you most likely will have the same experience again and again until you learn and grow!

Guest Blogger: Noelene Dawes of emotional risilience www.unlockingpotential.com.au