Stay Calm, Take Command, and Lead with Confidence

One of the most underrated skillsets to have as a Leader: Staying Calm.

Everyday, Managers/Leaders are faced with problems. Something’s gone wrong. Someone made a massive mistake.

Chaos.

It’s non-stop and it’s your job as the Leader to fix it.

I can only remember a few work days where I came into the office to utter peace. Those were some of the worst days at work. Leaders thrive in an environment filled with chaos. It’s our orchestra, and we are the conductors.

Staying calm as a leader, composing yourself, is one of the hardest things to do when everything is out of control. Think back to the pandemic. Think to a time when someone on your team made a costly mistake or embarrassed your whole department. Can you recall a time when a team member lied to your leader about you something you didn’t do?

Those are the moments when your blood starts to boil. When your initial reaction (in your head) is to jump, respond, do!

But those reactions will get you no where.

The secret to being a successful Leader, is to lead with grace.

If you can lead through the chaos, with grace, you’ve unlocked a skill too many have failed to achieve. You would be surprised to know what opportunities could come your way when senior leadership learns that you have the ability to stay calm during difficult situations, while others panic.

What’s the benefit of staying calm?

Well, it’s the opposite of what happens when you don’t. Not staying calm means to panic. Panic means you cannot think, you’re irrational, you make bad decisions and ultimately, you make mistakes. BIG, mistakes.

When you remain calm, you can take a moment to pause. To breathe. To think. Remember, you are the Leader, the team is watching you. They react to your reactions. Like a mirror. If you remain calm, chances are, they will too (to some degree). You also have the opportunity to think through strategy. While everybody else is wasting time freaking out and panicking., you're taking the time to consider what the options are.

The calmness and control you bring to a chaotic situation is a strength known as: Command.

It’s what differentiates one Leader to another. How they control the room. How they conduct the next moves. How the team moves to the beat of their Leader. In stressful situations, it’s what’s needed. Even if you don’t have a plan (Leaders rarely do), build one. But own it. Build it with your team. But direct them on what you need and who does what. It’s not the time to worry about whether you sound bossy or not. It’s case critical and you need a solution…with finesse and grace.

In the thick of the chaos, dwelling on the past does no good for anyone. Find the root cause, and brainstorm ideas to fix the issue. As the Leader, your role is to bring order and alignment to the team. Once you’ve figured out a plan, challenge the team and come up with an alternative solution in the event you need to pivot.

Leading with a sense of calmness, is not easy to master. It requires self-awareness, patience, a mindfulness of the surroundings, and trust. How you conduct yourself in these high-stress situations can be the differentiator between staying where you are and growing into the next opportunity.