Learn to lead through tough times

by Chris Widener

What kind of leadership do you demonstrate during tough and challenging times? Weak leaders cause lasting damage. With extraordinary leaders at the helm, however, an organization can actually become stronger and thrive in spite of tough and challenging times. Those times become the platform for solidifying their organization and increasing business in the future. Here are some ideas on how to be an extraordinary leader in tough and challenging times.

1) Keep your eye on the big picture
When things get tough, everybody’s temptation is to become acutely focused on the problem. The extraordinary leader, however, keeps his or her eye on the big picture. This doesn’t mean that you don’t address the problem. In fact, you have to address the problem. 

What separates a leader from a follower is that the leader doesn’t get caught up in the problem. The leader sees the big picture and keeps moving toward the vision. The further they take their followers toward the vision, the further away from the problem they get. Keep focused on the vision even though immediate problems scream for your attention.

2) Don't get caught in the war or in friendly fire
When it gets tough, even the most loyal team members can be tempted to start shooting and, unfortunately, they sometimes shoot each other. Rather than focusing on the enemy on the outside, they begin to question each other and find many faults with one another that they normally would not have seen.

Extraordinary leaders keep from being dragged into the fray. They keep their eye on the big picture and act rationally and objectively. They understand that in the heat of the moment people say things they don’t really mean. Extraordinary leaders understand this and rise above it. This way, they take fewer arrows and set the example for their followers.

3) Be first to sacrifice
When it gets tough, for example when salaries must be cut, the leader should be the first to sacrifice. The extraordinary leader says, “I know many of you are concerned with the salary cuts. I am too. In the long run we will be healthy again but in the mean time, this is necessary. Understanding this, I want you to know that I am taking a 20 percent pay reduction myself. I want you to know that we are in this together.”

The extraordinary leader is the first to sacrifice and will be rewarded with the loyalty of his or her followers. When a follower sees that a leader is willing to take the bad along with the good, they develop respect for that leader and are more willing to devote themselves to following and producing for that leader.

4) Remain calm
Panic is one of the basest of human emotions and no one is immune to it. Extraordinary leaders, however, regularly take time out to think issues through so they can remain calm. They remind themselves that all is not lost and there will be another day. They remind themselves that being calm enables them to make the best decisions for themselves and for their followers.

Panic only leads to disaster, while calm leads to victory. This is one of the distinguishing marks of a leader: They stay calm, stay the course, keep on moving and avoid panic.

5) Motivate
In tough and challenging times, people are naturally down. They tend to be pessimistic. They can’t see how problems work out. Thus, they have a hard time getting going. Extraordinary leaders know this and focus on being the optimistic motivator. They come to the office knowing their attitudes and actions will buoy the mood of the group.

It is the leader’s job to motivate, to provide “motive” for followers to keep their heads in the game and to keep the organization moving. If you can do that in tough times, you will be a master in good times.

6) Create small wins
One of the ways to motivate is to create small wins. The extraordinary leader knows that in tough times his or her people may think all is lost. They wonder if they can win. So, the extraordinary leader creates opportunities for the team to win, even if they are small. They set smaller, more achievable goals and remind and reward team members when they hit those goals.

With each small win, the leader builds the esteem and attitude of his followers, digging them out of their self-created hole of fear. Tough times usually provide losses for organizations. Those leaders who can keep their organizations on a steady track of incremental wins, even small ones, prove themselves to be extraordinary.

7) Keep a sense of humor
The extraordinary leader keeps perspective and knows that we humans act irrationally when we get scared and fail, and sometimes that is humorous. Don’t ever laugh at someone’s expense in this situation, because that will be perceived as cold and heartless. But do keep the ability to laugh at yourself and situations that present themselves.

We need to be able to laugh and enjoy life, even when circumstances are tough. Even when we are challenged by extreme circumstances, we can keep our sense of humor. This is what provides us with the joy of work and life.

Is it hard to be an extraordinary leader during tough and challenging times? Of course. But it is possible. Those leaders who are aware of the strategies that keep their organizations at the top even when downturns come step up and lead extraordinary organizations. While others fail, they see their organizations survive and even thrive. When good times come again, they will be positioned for even more dynamic and profitable growth for themselves and for the organizations they lead.

Chris Widener is president of Made For Success and Extraordinary Leaders, two companies helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams. Reach him at or at .

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