My Best Advice for Leaders When Things Are Going Wrong
In my previous, pre-ministry business days, I once owned a business where everything that could go wrong did. I reacted poorly and it ended up costing me greatly.
Therefore, here is my best advice for the CEO/Small Business Owner/Pastor for when things are going wrong in the organization:
DON’T RUN
Whatever happens, as bad as it gets, don’t disappear from your leadership post. When things are going wrong you will be tempted to skip out of the office early, hide with your door closed, or make excuses for why you aren’t on the job. That is never the right response. When you disappear:
- Your employees have less motivation to work hard; some will disappear too.
- Your worries don’t leave you just because you aren’t at the office.
- You will never solve the problems as an absentee leader.
- You most likely won’t be there to see the turnaround if and when it begins.
As much as you want the pain to be over, hang in there and fight your way to the end of the battle. You may need to slip away long enough to regain your composure, write a new plan or re-energize for the battle, but that should never last long enough where those trying to follow think they have lost their leader. If that end is that you sell out, you leave the organization, things turnaround, or even if the worse case scenario comes true and the organization ends, lead the organization as long as you are at the helm.
Looking back on the situation, you’ll be glad you continued to lead strong.
Has there every been a time you were tempted to run from your leadership position?
