In the heat of adversity, it’s hard to see beyond the immediacy of what’s going on right in front of you. While trying to mitigate potential damage, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment, in the drudgery of the work required to get through these times.
You consider yourself a realist. Just give you the facts and you’ll deal with them. You don’t want to be a Pollyanna and give false hope, and you certainly don’t want to sugarcoat the situation.
It’s essential to face reality. However, reality informs your future – it doesn’t dictate it. The lens through which you view today’s reality colors the lens through which you see and realize your future.
How will you show up?
A leader’s perspective influences others. Employees and customers take cues from how you handle situations. And they can tell when you’re stressed or uneasy. They can also tell if you believe in what you are telling them. If you are anxious, employees and customers will be as well.
Your objective is to try and make a mental shift about the situation and possibilities. Your team and organization need you to show up as a leader with a “can-do” positive outlook. Even though tough decisions must be made during a crisis, your perspective on how those decisions generate positive outcomes for the organization is essential. How to Reclaim Control.
When you have a more hopeful perspective, you reclaim control of the situation. You refuse to settle or become a victim, but rather you’re empowered to create a better future.
In my role as chair of the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, I was extremely proud of the impact a single girl could make in the lives of others. Gold Award Girl Scouts, those who have achieved the Girl Scout’s highest honor, are leading the way to solve some of the world’s greatest societal crises. These high school-aged Girl Scouts select a problem in the world or their community about which they are passionate.
To earn the award they must work with the associated organizations and constituents to complete a seven-step process that leads to the implementation of meaningful solutions to bring about lasting change. Gold Award Girl Scouts are addressing issues such as human trafficking, the gender gap in STEM, literacy, and food insecurity… major societal problems. Their attitude could be that these issues are much bigger than one girl could possibly solve. Their perspective is that they have the power to make the world a better place. And they are… one girl at a time!
Even when it comes to seemingly insurmountable problems – perspective counts.
For more information on Gold Award Girl Scouts, visit https://www.girlscouts.org/en/our-program/highest-awards/gold-award.html
