Zoekresultaten

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." Our ability to stay centred and focused is highly needed to avoid feeling overwhelmed and get caught up in any stress reaction. Many of us have been conditioned to look outside of ourselves to find safety and security, to help us be more grounded, and to help us find the strength to carry on. If life has brought you many challenges and you were able to face them, you have built up resilience for sure. Resilience is the capacity to adjust to or recover from adversity. In business however a lot of teams and individuals remain in Drama mode or quick fix mode (check my  second podcast on this!) which will never lead to resilience.  Resilience comes when we stop the drama and quick fix response and start to observe what the situation is trying to show us and recognize the role we have played up until now in order to choose the role we will play going forward as a team.  The same counts on how to move forward as a team.  In the face of constant change, then the ability to adapt quickly to new circumstances while staying focused under pressure can define a team’s success in a crisis. Drama won’t.  Resilient teams won’t crumble in the face of setbacks: -> adjust, learn and continue ahead, pivot when the plan falls apart and find new paths where others see roadblocks. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow, yes, that sounds very stereotypish, yet is it so utterly true. Reflective Questions: When change comes fast and challenges mount: - does your team have the resilience and adaptability to stay focused and move forward? - or do they remain stuck in drama and quick fixes?  - how do you choose to show up with each other?

"The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It’s got to be a vision you articulate clearly and powerfully on every occasion. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet." In a crisis, a unified vision and purpose become the guiding stars for a team.  As Simon Sinek says, start with why.... indeed, because if not, why on earth would people be motivated to join in?  When everyone shares the same understanding of the goals and the mission, it creates a powerful sense of direction and focus. Set this as your priority one! Repeat, repeat, repeat and then stick to it!  Each team member has to know their role (if not - wait till team essential 7) and how their contributions align with the bigger picture, ensuring coordinated efforts even in the midst of chaos. This shared purpose not only drives action but also strengthens commitment and resilience.  Without a unified vision, a team can easily become fragmented, start working on non-essentials and lose sight of what truly matters. Don't let short term problems shift or forget about your "why"! Short term firefighting problems should be linked and held against the why and whether that is serving the "why". So many companies, (leadership) teams are stuck in "shorttermism" not having any other purpose than quick fixes and hence without even noticing: longterm struggle and repetition of old resurfacing problems.  In challenging times, a common purpose is what transforms individual efforts into collective success.  Reflective Questions:  - Is your team aligned around a clear vision and purpose that guides their actions, especially when facing a crisis? - Are you adjusting the language you use to clarify your vision so everyone in your teams and company understands – and see what is in it for them so they share your vision?

"The art of communication is the language of leadership."  Clear communication and making sure everyone understood the same thing is the lifeblood of any successful team, especially in times of crisis. When communication is open and transparent, it fosters trust and ensures that everyone is on the same page.  The question however remains: how easy is it for everyone to be open in your team? That is why you need team essential 1 – trust! Openness requires courage! Are you aware what the number 1 limiting belief in the minds of so many people is? Yes, exactly: "what will happen to me and my job if I dare to speak my truth?"  Another example is that when harmony is one of the personal values, one might still have difficulty to be “open” as in their minds this can be perceived as blunt or too direct. (yes ever wondered about that?).  Consistency in messaging and recapitulating enough keeps the team aligned and eliminates confusion, allowing each member to contribute their best. Without clear communication, even the most talented teams can falter. It’s not just about sharing information—it’s about making sure every voice is heard and understood.  In moments of uncertainty, the clarity of your communication can be the difference between chaos and cohesion. Reflective Question:  How clear and consistent is the communication within your team, especially when the stakes are high?  What common (limiting) beliefs are shared in your team which might stop people from communicating?

"Trust is the glue of life. It's the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It's the foundational principle that holds all relationships." Trust is highly underrated in companies these days, I am surprised to see how easily distrust can reside in operational teams nowadays. Team members hold on to often superficial perceptions they have about people and “tag” them as “oh that is how he/she IS” instead of really digging deeper to know their colleague and see and speak about what drives the other person’s behaviour. And no, I am not even talking about asking personal details…  Be aware that in times of crisis, trust becomes the bedrock that holds a team together. When team members feel psychologically safe, they’re empowered to share bold ideas, admit mistakes, and voice concerns without fear of backlash. This environment of safety fosters creativity and innovation, even under pressure.  Trust is not just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for navigating uncertainty and maintaining momentum. Without it, fear, frustration and silence can cripple a team’s ability to respond effectively. In the heat of a crisis, a team that trusts each other is a team that can overcome any challenge. Reflective Questions:  - Does your team feel safe enough to speak up and take risks when the pressure is on?  - Do you take time to allow and explore emotions that might block the way to take a bold factual rational way forward?