7 Lessons for Navigating the Storm
It is tough to think positively in a crisis. Yet one overarching lesson in a new book by HBS professor Bill George, 7 Lessons for Leading in Crisis (Jossey-Bass), is exactly that: See crisis as a chance to develop and enhance your leadership skills.
« Optimistic, forward-thinking leaders are sitting on a rare opportunity, and they must be systematic in how they take advantage of it if they want to make positive changes, » says George, a Professor of Management Practice at HBS and the former chairman and CEO of Medtronic, which develops medical technologies to treat chronic diseases.
« Crises offer rare opportunities to make major changes in an organization because they lessen the resistance that exists in good times. »
« Leaders must be willing to ask for help, » he continues. « They should rely on a mentor, an internal management team, and an external support group. No one can be an effective leader in a crisis by attempting to go it alone. Leaders must be the first to recognize this reality and plan accordingly. »
The seven leadership lessons include:
1. Face reality, starting with yourself.
2. Don’t be Atlas; get the world off your shoulders.
3. Dig deep for the root cause.
4. Get ready for the long haul.
5. Never waste a good crisis.
6. You’re in the spotlight: follow your True North.
7. Go on offense: focus on winning now.
Some of these lessons are really intereting and are now – yet- shared by most executives I know….
Source : HBS Working Knowledge
