A few brief word about leadership and what it entails at its most difficult times...during the brief pause after something has happened that either been caused by your command, or is going to call into question your ability to lead. Aftershocks - those lonely, intense and frightening moments: after you've made an unpopular but righteous and necessary decision; after you have made a poor decision that has cost many; when your team, constituents or adversaries (i.e., your most tenacious detractors) are looking to place blame (and you are an obvious and opportune target). In summary, in those critical periods when most Human Beings would instinctively choose to run or hide.
How you handle yourself in the aftermath of a crisis, or at the telltale signs of a "no confidence" vote, when you will be unable to simply run and hide, and your secondary conditioned response program will be to either become 1) terribly angry or 2)very defensive, will truly define you. These are the very opportunities to separate yourself from the ranks of others who would blindly run with the crowd, and those escape artists who will do or say anything (or nothing) in order to escape attention or accountability.
Now (and not later) is the time to address the buzz. Now is the time to stand up straight and tall and hold a press conference. You must take the lead. You are obligated, as a commander, and as a true adult, to send a message. Now is the time to be fully accountable, but without excuses, feeble explanations, a 'politically proper' retreat, displacing blame, or providing the detailed account of a servant or an assistant. You must:
1) Get right to the heart of the issue;
2) Briefly summarize the situation as it truly is;
3) Claim absolute responsibility for your decisions, either good or bad, and regardless of the outcome;
4) If you've caused pain or loss, say that you're sorry for those affected - but don't belabor this point;
5) Move right on, and talk about what your next steps will be. Being swiftly decisive is every bit as important as being right. Don't surrender your position of authority. Remember: You are holding court, and you must not act as if you are on trial. Don't stay and address petty questions - be direct, but sharp -- you must leave because you either have a business, an organization or a country to lead. And your job is to do exactly that.
Leaders must lead. By definition, a leader cannot ever hide. He or she must retain command and control.
Douglas E Castle [http://www.linkedin.com/in/douglascastle]
http://InfoSphereBusinessAlerts.blogspot.com
http://Links4LifeAlerts.com
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