INSIGHTS (on leadership/self-leadership)
I was sitting in my office in Southern California when, suddenly, the walls and windows started shaking and rattling, like, noticeably. I’d later learn it was a 5.8 earthquake, but it was a video that started circulating afterwards that really moved me (pun intended). The San Diego Zoo posted this video of parent elephants, spooked by the earthquake, doing something amazing. They quickly gathered their children and formed what zoologists call an “alert circle,” forcing the children to go back to back, so they could keep a watchful eye and protect them.
It got me thinking. When adversity strikes, who, and what, is in your “alert circle?” I’m not just talking about people in your immediate family you obviously want to protect. Who in your extended circle do you want to make sure are getting by OK in their own struggles? What friends and family, who you don’t get to see as much, would appreciate your watchful, empathetic eye?
And what values do you want to “circle the wagons” to protect when things are shaky? What matters most that you must never compromise, no matter what the world is throwing at you?
Elephants never forget. And neither should we.
IMPERFECTIONS (a mistake many make)
Keeping with the theme of reacting to adversity, Modern CEO recently interviewed 14 CEO’s to get their insight on what to do in challenging times. You can read the full list of advice for yourself, but one thing offered especially resonated with my experience and research:
Never waste a crisis.
Too many make the mistake of doing just that. They use all their energy pointing fingers, sticking their heads in the sand, or solely focusing on just getting through it alive (which, of course, is important). But the truth is, crises can either traumatize, or galvanize, an organization. Use them to spot mistakes you can learn and grow from, as a call to rise to the occasion, in a way that builds camaraderie and community. Leverage crises to strengthen organizational resilience, and to create stories of adaptability you can later refer to when the next crisis inevitably happens. Lean on crises to spotlight admirable behavior and reward those living the values you’d hope for in adversity.
Just don’t waste a crisis. Or let it lay waste to your team.
IMPLEMENTATION (one research-backed strategy, tip, or tool)
Why do we fear change? One of the most overlooked, but most data-backed reasons is because we fear what we might lose that’s associated with change. Maybe we’re scared of losing momentum, our identity, our job, our sense of purpose, or a sense of certainty. Maybe we’re worried about losing face, or losing a favorite co-worker or boss because of the change. Whatever it is, our aversion to loss can cause logic to fly out the window. That’s why research shows that gamblers at a horse track who are having a losing day are the most likely to bet the long shots, at terrible odds, on the last race of the day. They’re faced with the realization of loss, and are willing to bet on a horse with 20:1 odds (for example); a bet they’d never walk in thinking they’d make. All because of our violent aversion to loss.
So, bottom line, in the face of change, don’t focus on what you’ll lose, but what’s to gain.
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