How great leaders turn these crucible moments into opportunity.
As leaders, we all know the bad news is coming. It’s not a matter of if, but when.
Getting bad news is part of being a leader. John Maxwell would put these occasions into the category of “crucible moments” – those experiences that create who we are as leaders, and the culture we create.
All is not lost…there is good news here! While we cannot control the delivery of bad news, we can certainly control our behavior in response to the bad news. Therein lies incredible opportunity.
My last blog answered the question:
Which interactions between the leader and follower impact culture?
The answer – all interactions impacts culture.
Every organization generally has either a culture of fear or a culture of trust. Where the organization lands on this spectrum changes constantly. Think dynamic, unstable, fickle… and you’ll get a clear picture of the volatile nature as the culture vacillates on this spectrum.
Here is the important point: The endless movement toward trust or fear is driven primarily by the behaviors of the leader. Day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute, second to second – the leader has hundreds of interactions each day to build trust and drive out fear. While all interactions impact this dynamic, certainly some interactions impact it more than others.
Where’s that good news I alluded to earlier?
Here it is: as much as we hate bad news, the truth is these are golden opportunities to build trust. How we react to the bad news is one of those interactions that will have a significant impact on the culture we create. Maintain your composure, you’ll gain trust. React with anger, you’ll lose trust.
If you react with anger, less and less people will be willing to give you bad news. Blissful ignorance, better known as flying blind, is no place for a leader to be. You can’t solve problems that you’re unaware of. Disaster awaits the ill-informed leader.
On your leadership journey over the next couple of weeks, when the bad news comes, remember to be a great leader and think of it as a golden opportunity to build trust.
Your stomach will be churning and your brain will be swirling. That’s OK! While we can cannot control the delivery of bad news, we can certainly control our behavior in response to the bad news. The optimal response is to maintain your composure – show neither shock nor anger.
Remember, these are crucible moments that create who you are as a leader, and the culture you create.
Don’t forget….enjoy the journey!
Mark
Dr. Mark Brouker
Captain (Retired), United States Navy
Founder and President
Brouker Leadership Solutions