763-545-5997

Am I Capable of Leading Through Volatile Times? Who Can I Talk To? 4th in a Series of 4

Leigh Bailey | June 25, 2013 | Blog | CEO Advisory | 2 minute read

The topic of volatility seems all too timely after this past stormy weekend!  And, like weather, business can also be stormy and most unpredictable!

“Volatile times” seems to suggest that at some point in the future, things will settle down and return to a calmer time of old.  In the last decade or so, behind each economic or business storm, there was another.  Customer demands, speed, competitive intensity, quarterly returns and global fluctuations are here to stay.

Unending volatility and demands for performance can bring out the worst in leaders.  Under pressure, all leaders can fall to their back-up styles (the far corner of their personalities), showing up as:

– Removed.  Leaders may pull away from others, retreating inward, grappling to find answers in isolation, leaving others in the dark and frustrated

– Edgy, prickly, demanding and not easily pleased

– Prone to quick, rash decisions

– Paralyzed – requesting vast amounts of data common to perfectionists

As leaders, don’t let business volatility make you volatile.  It’s important to know how you respond to pressure and put in necessary safeguards.

What do you do in volatile times besides being self – aware?

– Surround yourself with wise leaders who “have been there before”. There’s nothing like a dose of perspective, calm and expert insight from someone who weathered a similar storm.  It may be your board chair, an outside colleague or a trusted “old soul” in your organization.   Don’t be afraid to tap into outside experts too. Often what you need the most is a credible sounding board, a great listener.

– Allow time to pause and reflect away from the office.

– Keep a clear head. Simplify and focus.

– Tightly hold on to core values, guiding all critical decisions.

– Rest, exercise and build resilience, strength and courage to head into another storm.

At The Bailey Group, we find that leaders often have the right answers, but need a coach to draw out their thinking and plan a course of action.  Contact us to guide you through your current storm.

Minneapolis | CEO Advisory | Leadership Development