5 Thoughts to Lead by (in the face of crisis)
These days, as has been for the last 2 weeks, there is one place you can find me at 1800 hours every day. It's with my core management team, when we do a check-in on the state of the university. We talk for no more than 30 minutes, sometimes less, and each call has gotten more informative and action-oriented, and shorter. We are hitting a good rhythm.
Looking back at the hurricane of a month we have all had, including some quick decisions and the frantic execution of them, I credit this routine not to a single text book framework but to a spontaneous and organic shift to what makes sense for the university.
Two defining characteristics of my leadership team are diversity and passion, and when brought together in a forum of free expression, it is noteworthy how these two traits have spurned powerful ideas and practices that now guide us, and me, daily.
(1) Be Fact Based
Relying on a few trusted information sources and monitoring (exponential) changes from each baseline
Listening to lots of perspective and advice but challenging and resolving contradictions (or too much good news)
Resisting the pressure to react to everything, or each new development, right away
(2) Stay Grounded
Never forgetting our primary role or that of the organization - to educate young people in safety
Checking in regularly on our university and personal values
Remembering that this is not the time to make money, or become popular
(3) Embrace Confident Decision-Making
Being honest about our strengths and limits (limits, NOT limitations)
Identifying options and knowing where to place trigger points - before closing opportunity windows or the onset of downside scenarios
Keeping the ultimate decision in mind and being ready to make a run for it (think - stealing bases, baseball fans!)
(4) Act with Resolve
Inaction is not an option; neither is hope a responsible strategy; inflexibility is a definitely a risk factor
Execution is only good when followed all the way through to the end
Overcommunicating to the team and the organization, and trying not to create noise (work in progress)
(5) Stay Close to Your Team
Using technology to listen and be heard (not worrying about fat fingers and perfect syntax)
Random check-ins yield unexpected insight and clarity about people and overlooked topics
Listening not just to words, but verbal fillers and non-verbal cues (everyone expresses differently)
Yes - 30 minutes of our collective time is a godsend!
#purpose #courage #leadership #impact #custament