Glenn Llopis<\/a>, Contributor\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The composure of a leader is reflected in their attitude, body language andoverall presence<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 In today\u2019s evolving business environment, it is clear that leadership is not only about elevating the performance, aptitude and development of people \u2013 but more so about the ability to make people feel safe and secure.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Employees have grown tired of working in survival mode<\/a>and thus want to be part of a workplace culture where they can get back to doing their best work without the fear of losing their jobs.<\/p>\n I worked with a colleague that lacked composure and was always in a panic.\u00a0 Though he had tremendous credentials, he lacked the ability to remain calm and thus often made his employees feel uneasy. His leadership role was just too big for what he was capable of handling.\u00a0\u00a0 He was often too dramatic and the smallest of\u00a0problems \u00a0launched him into crisis management mode<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 Needless to say, his wasn\u2019t an effective leadership that could deal with real crisis and change.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Because he was unable to reinvent himself and adapt to the unexpected, his tenure was short-lived.<\/p>\n The 21st\u00a0century leader sees adversity\u00a0through the lens of opportunity<\/a>.\u00a0 Rather than panic, a leader with composure takes a step back and\u00a0begins to connect the dots of opportunity<\/a>\u00a0within adverse circumstances.\u00a0\u00a0 These types of leaders quickly detect the causes of adversity and solve for them immediately.\u00a0 They then enable the opportunities previously unseen that could have avoided the adversity to begin with. \u00a0Many times crisis results when composure is missing<\/i><\/b>.<\/p>\n The next time a problem arises, ask yourself if you or your leader could have shown a greater sense of composure and avoided the problem from surfacing.<\/i><\/p>\n When leading \u2013 especially during times of uncertainty and adversity, crisis and change \u2013 you must avoid showing any signs of leadership immaturity or lack of preparedness that will make your employees feel unsafe and insecure. Here are seven ways to maintain leadership composure during the most pressure-packed moments:<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Don\u2019t Allow Your Emotions to Get in the Way<\/b><\/p>\n Seasoned leaders know not to wear their emotions on their sleeves.\u00a0\u00a0 They don\u2019t yell or get overly animated when times get tough.\u00a0 These types of leaders have such emotional self-control that even their body language does not give them away.<\/p>\n When you allow your emotions to get in the way, employees interpret this as a sign you are not being objective enough and too passionate about the situation at hand.\u00a0 Strong-willed leaders can maintain their composure and still express concern and care, but not to the point that their emotions become a distraction \u2013 or that they can\u2019t responsibly handle the issues at hand.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Don\u2019t Take Things Personally<\/b><\/p>\n Leaders shouldn\u2019t take things personally when things don\u2019t go their way.\u00a0\u00a0 Business decisions and circumstances don\u2019t always play out logically because office politics and other dynamics factor into the process.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As a leader, remain calm and don\u2019t get defensive or think that you always must justify your thinking and actions.<\/p>\n When you begin to take things personally, it\u2019s difficult to maintain your composure and make those around you believe that you have things under control.\u00a0 In fact, when leaders take issues too close to heart, they allow the noise and politics around them to suffocate their thinking and decision-making capabilities.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Keep a Positive Mental Attitude<\/b><\/p>\n Employees are always watching their leader\u2019s actions, behavior, relationships and overall demeanor.\u00a0\u00a0 During the most difficult of times, leaders must maintain a positive mental attitude and\u00a0manage a narrative that keeps their employees inspired and hopeful<\/a>.\u00a0 This is where your leadership experience and resolve\u00a0 can really shine \u2013 by staying strong, smiling often and authentically exhibiting a sense of compassion.<\/p>\n Leaders set the tone for the organization they serve.\u00a0\u00a0 A positive attitude can neutralize chaos and allow a leader to course correct through any negativity.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Employees feed off the attitude of these leaders during times of uncertainty.\u00a0\u00a0 Keep a positive mental attitude and never stop moving forward.\u00a0 Stay focused on building positive momentum for the betterment of the healthier whole<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Remain Fearless<\/b><\/p>\n When leaders project confidence, they instill it in others.\u00a0 During uncertain times, leaders must remain fearless and project a cool persona that communicates composure to those they lead.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been through ups and downs in my career and have learned that when you begin to fear adverse circumstances, you not only put yourself in a position of vulnerability, but it becomes extremely difficult to act rationally and objectively.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When you panic, you mentally freeze and your mind loses focus.<\/p>\n When you begin to get fearful, ask yourself:\u00a0 What is the worst possible thing that can happen?\u00a0 If you are objective about it and have the will and confidence to face it, you will eventually realize that the situation is manageable and can be resolved.\u00a0 Faced with adversity several times over, your fears will eventually vanish and\u00a0uncertainty will become your best friend<\/a>.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Respond Decisively<\/b><\/p>\n Leaders who maintain their composure will never show any signs of doubt.\u00a0 They speak with conviction, confidence and authority \u2013 whether they know the answer \u00a0or not!\u00a0 With their delivery alone,\u00a0 they give their employees \u00a0a sense that everything is under control.<\/p>\n Recently,\u00a0Mack Brown<\/a>, the former coach of the\u00a0University of Texas<\/a>\u00a0(UT) football team, was put under a lot of pressure to resign as a result of his team underperforming in 2013.\u00a0 Though\u00a0the University handled his forced resignation poorly<\/a>\u00a0 \u2013 considering Mr. Brown had coached the team successfully for the past 16 years \u2013\u00a0his decisiveness the day he announced his resignation<\/a>\u00a0made you feel that his transition out of the job was a positive thing for the university.\u00a0 Human nature will tell you that he must have been hurting inside, but his decisiveness and presence of mind made those that were watching him speak believe that the future looked bright for UT football.<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Take Accountability<\/b><\/p>\n Leaders are most composed during times of crisis and change when they are fully committed to resolving the issue at hand.\u00a0\u00a0 When you are accountable, this means that you have made the decision to assume responsibility and takethe required steps to problem solve<\/a>\u00a0before the situation gets out of hand.<\/p>\n When leaders assume accountability, they begin to neutralize the problem and place \u00a0the environment from which it sprung on pause \u2013 much like\u00a0New Jersey Governor Chris Christie<\/a>\u00a0did when he announced that he did not have any prior knowledge of the decision his aides made to close down access lanes to the George Washington Bridge.\u00a0 Though there may be legal woes to come, the manner in which he handled the initial news conference (temporarily) neutralized the crisis \u2013 as he answered all of the reporters\u2019 questions and took full responsibility and accountability to punish the perpetrators and keep something like this from happening again.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n 7.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Act Like You Have Been There Before<\/b><\/p>\n Great leaders know that one of the most effective ways to maintain composure during difficult times is to act like you have been there before.\u00a0\u00a0 Leaders that act to show they have been through the problem solving process numerous times before are those with strong executive presence who approach the matter at hand with a sense of elegance and grace.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They are patient<\/a>, they\u00a0are active listeners<\/a>, and they will genuinely take a compassionate approach to ease the hardships that anyone else is experiencing.<\/p>\n Just ask any technical support representative.\u00a0 When you are on the phone with them, their job is to make you feel that even your most difficult challenges can be easily resolved.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They are there to calm you down and give you hope that your problem will soon be solved.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pay attention to their demeanor and how they are masters at soothing your frustrations.\u00a0 They always act to show that they have been there before; their composure puts your mind at ease.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to lose composure during times of crisis and change if you let concern turn into worry and worry turn into fear.\u00a0 By maintaining composure, the best leaders remain calm, cool and in control \u2013 enabling them to step back, critically evaluate the cards that they have been dealt and face problems head-on.\u00a0 A show of composure also puts those you lead at ease and creates a safe and secure workplace culture where no one need panic in the face of adversity.<\/p>\n As the saying goes, \u201cKeep Calm and Carry On!<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t Allow Your Emotions to Get in the Way 2.\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t Take Things Personally 3.\u00a0\u00a0Keep a Positive Mental Attitude 4.\u00a0\u00a0Remain Fearless 5.\u00a0\u00a0Respond Decisively 6.\u00a0\u00a0Take Accountability 7.\u00a0\u00a0Act Like You Have Been There Before http:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/glennllopis\/2014\/01\/20\/7-ways-leaders-maintain-their-composure-in-difficult-times\/ Glenn Llopis, Contributor\u00a0 1\/20\/2014 @ 10:18AM\u00a0|86,841 views 7 Ways Leaders Maintain Their Composure in Difficult Times Leaders need to show more composure than … Continue reading Composure in leadership<\/span> 7 Ways Leaders Maintain Their Composure in Difficult Times<\/h1>\n<\/hgroup>\n
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<\/a>Leaders need to show more composure than ever before in the workplace.\u00a0\u00a0 With the\u00a0change management requirements<\/a>, increased marketplace demands and intensifying competitive factors that surround us, leaders must have greater poise, agility and patience to minimize the impact of uncertainty.\u00a0\u00a0 How leaders respond to these and other growing pressures is an indicator of their leadership preparedness, maturity and acumen.<\/p>\n\n