C-Views (Week 7) Leading Despite Adversity

Recently it seems that our media outlets are reporting constant and continuous adverse situations that are taking place in some part of our globe. These situations no matter if caused by mother nature or human nature inevitably have an impact on our outlook and demeanor. I personally believe that there are three natural responses that we as human beings have in the face of adversity. I do not believe that there is a particular order for any of the responses and feel that each situation is defined by the personal circumstances and perspectives of each individual. Regardless of the personal responses we might have, there is a professional response that we should have in our organizational environments. I believe that Lee Iacocca articulates the response we should have very well:

“In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive”.

Anger is one of the natural responses that humans have when they perceive that something adverse and unjust is happening. This anger many times can lead to aggression which in turn leads to more adversity. 

On the contrary many will react to adversity with sympathy and empathy. Often these reactions lead to positive action by the way of assistance to the people affected by adversity. The outcomes of this reaction are usually positive. Sometimes empathy without action can lead to a negative sense of overwhelming helplessness if not channeled properly.

The third response that I have observed people take is one of apathy. They just don’t care. Some people are capable of focusing only on situations that impact them personally and disregarding the adversity being faced by others.

 I believe that all three of the responses mentioned above are born within our natural instinct of survival. The truth of the matter is that adversity has been a part of our world since the beginning. Those of us with a sense of the divine understand the merit in the Chinese Yin and Yang theory from the third century BC.  This theory explains that inter dependency that two opposite forces may have. Fortunately, a majority of human kind over the ages have focused on seeking out a harmonious and peaceful existence. Most have advocated for good vs. bad.  The tendency toward peaceful civilizations and democracy has helped this become a reality with minor exceptions. The exceptions have been very painful but have usually allowed us to learn what we do not want for our future.

The majority of the business world functions best in periods of peace and harmony. There are obviously some exceptions to this rule as there are in many things in life but for the most part our “professional” lives are “safe” havens where we can find stability and consistency.  The reason for this is that businesses cannot typically survive financially if they are engulfed by much strife and conflict. Businesses are efficient in this manner. The points that Lee Iacocca make are as follows:

Keep Busy: Action and activity help us in so many ways. When we are busy with something productive we have an easier time forgetting about the negative things that are affecting us.  Recently I was impacted by Hurricane Irma while in South Florida during which time I lost power and water for four days. The four days of not having power and running water were minimal compared to the 12 days that I experienced during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. During both of these experiences I spent most of my days physically cleaning debris and most of my nights reading. These activities kept me distracted and occupied. During Katrina much effort was spent on getting my business back up and running. During that time we had at least 80 employees that were depending on our ability to continue operating. We also had at least five times that amount of customers that were also in need of us getting operational as soon as possible. Overcoming the challenges of doing so with limited resources was very satisfying. Many times “the harder the battle, the sweeter the victory” holds true.

Plow your anger and energy into something positive: Undoubtedly Lee Iacocca was familiar and therefore specific when using the word “plow”. Modernization and machinery now used takes away from the power that this word has for our future generations. During much of our history plowing by hand or by horse required grit, patience, and perseverance. The term also implies that we are to go deeper than just the surface. “Plowing” our emotions and dedication into something positive when facing adversity can change our reality. It can transform something negative into something positive. I do not doubt that Martin Luther King had this in mind with his leadership during the civil rights movement. 

Business leaders should be aware that WE play a fundamental role in helping our team members face adversity. Negative reactions beget paralysis, negativity, and low productivity. Positive reactions lead to action, reconciliation, and fulfillment.  Here are some of my own personal tips to build upon what Lee Iacocca so eloquently says:

1.   Set aside your personal negative convictions: You have the right to express what you believe but the workplace is not the best platform for this. 

2.   Acknowledge & embrace the adversity:  Acknowledging and accepting the many diverse reactions that people will have will allow them to find their reconciliation. Being dismissive to people’s feelings leads to rebellion and divisiveness.

3.   Increase Positive Communication: During times of adversity, people need to see positive leadership and presence.

4.   Set the tone and agenda: Leaders have the duty and obligation to set the tone and agenda for the actions that people should take in response to adversity. Do no leave it open for interpretation. Remember that “common sense” is the least common of senses. 

5.   Create action plans to keep people busy: “An idle mind” is not always the “devil’s playground” but sometimes it is. 

6.   Celebrate victories: No matter how small a victory may be, it is important to celebrate the achievements so that the teams know that their efforts are leading to positive outcomes. 

7.   Lead by example: People will follow what you do, not what you say.

I will always remember the words from St. Thomas Episcopal Parish Rector, Father Tobin: “A setback is a setup for a comeback”. Life will always be full of setbacks. Having the right attitude and leadership approach is what allows us to convert them into comebacks. Please be well amongst all of the adversity you might face and please continue to share the positive that can be found in every situation. Otherwise as Mom used to say: “If you do not have something nice to say, it is best not to say anything at all”. 

Please email jquimby@qmresources.com for any questions or comments regarding this article or any other themes for future C-Views to be shared. QM Resources is offering High Performance Job Evaluations at no charge if you or a company you represent is in need of help increasing workforce efficiencies via increased engagement, communication, and performance. 

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Executive perspectives by Jason T. Quimby

Author: “Leading by Listening and Obeying”

President / CEO: www.qmresources.com