Inner Calm in a Crisis
Years ago, when hurricane Iniki hit the Hawaiian island of Kauai,
myself and two friends were among the first to arrive on the island after the
storm.
We had collected food, clothing, diapers, ice, batteries, etc. to take to
survivors.
50% of the buildings were destroyed and people were extremely grateful for what
we brought.
Later, I asked some of those survivors what attitudes helped them weather the
storm.
Their advice has been useful to me many times since.
As a leader, I hope their insights will be useful to you, too.
This is what the survivors suggest:
Banish any tendency to panic.
Do not be self-important.
Trust your intuition.
Concentrate on what is right in front of you.
This is not the time to criticize.
Lack of confidence is a weakness.
Be able to adapt and flow.
Conserve your en! ergy.
Be willing to abandon your plans.
But don't desert your principles.
Don't compromise your values.
Do not let others entice you with justifications of their ruthlessness.
Keep your childish heart from complaining.
Clarity must precede action.
Most important: Your first goal is to establish inner calm.
Until then, nothing can be done.
To establish inner calm: Focus on your breath.
Be quiet and listen to yourself breathing.
This method will calm down a group of rambunctious 5 year olds.
It will also help a leader in a crisis.
First get calm.
Which will help you get clear.
Then address the crisis.
--- Shar McBee www.JoyofLeadership.com
