Leaders are required to make tough decisions. They make the decisions others don’t want to make, which is one reason why they are leaders. There may be severe consequences if the leader makes the wrong decision. People lose their jobs, businesses cease to exist, teams lose national championships and sometimes people even die as a result.
Every leader has experienced fear when making these tough decisions. The normal human response to fear depends on the severity of the threat. The “fight or flight” response is common and in extreme situations, paralysis may set in. Leaders must respond differently to quickly assess the threat and develop a solution to overcome it.
Navy SEAL commanders constantly make decisions with life and death consequences in the face of extreme threats. They are well qualified to teach us effective leadership skills in stressful situations. In the book “Extreme Ownership,” former Navy SEAL commander Jocko Willink shares some tips we can all learn from.
According to Willink, the leader is ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the team. They must ensure everyone on the team has the proper training, tools and tactics needed for success.
Good leaders do not make excuses, they find a way to win. They establish a culture where achieving high standards become the norm. Leaders must understand the “why” and effectively communicate this to everyone else. They must be a true believer in the objective to convince and motivate others.
Finally, there is no room for ego. As soon as the leader thinks they are better than everyone else, they have no capacity to grow. They must be ready to lead, but also ready to follow if someone else has a better idea.
Effective leaders bring out the full potential of everyone around them. How do you lead in the face of fear?
