(2 minute read)
“Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges.”
(Bryant McGill)
The ‘cut-and-thrust’ of everyday life can be challenging enough on its own, yet alone while trying to lead a team toward standards of high performance.
There is a leadership model, often attributed to Indra Nooyi (CEO of Pepsi Co 2006-2018) known simply as ‘The 5 C’s of Leadership’. It supports and embraces 5 key qualities in leaders: Competence, Courage & Confidence, Communication, Consistency, and Compass (Integrity). We love this model and would like to add another ‘C’ into the mix of admirable leadership traits.
Incorporating Calmness into your Leadership.
Calm leadership is a style of leadership that involves maintaining composure and confidence in challenging situations, providing extended confidence and stability for a team. A calm leader makes clear, rational decisions, communicates effectively, and subsequently reduces stress within the team. This calmness has the effect of inspiring trust and improving desirable team outcomes.
This approach is about emotional self-control – not a lack of passion – and involves consciously choosing a response to stressful events rather than reacting impulsively.
Developing Calm Leadership
Practice self-regulation: Rather than reacting impulsively, or out of habit, aim to make more conscious and considered responses.
Tackle mini-problems: Rather than trying to solve one large problem in one attempt, break it down into manageable steps/stages.
Take your time: When presented with a large and/or sudden challenge, take a moment to breathe and gather your thoughts before planning a response.
Individuals don’t just turn to calm leaders in times of duress, they observe how they navigate challenges during these periods and look for ways in which they too can develop this most admirable of leadership traits.
“Pressure and mistakes are inevitable; the secret to getting past them is to stay calm.”
(Dr Travis Bradberry)