4 Ways to Lead During Turbulent Times

Business,Crisis,,Work,Struggle,,Challenges,Concept,,Never,Give,Up,,Vector

4 Ways to Lead During Turbulent Times

By Tim Irwin

A couple of years out of college, my future wife, Anne, moved to Washington State from Wisconsin where she’d been living. She and her roommate pulled a large U-Haul trailer with all their worldly possessions on the long trip. They reached the Continental Divide, and it was Anne’s turn to drive, as they headed toward the western side of the mountains. The beauty of the pristine snow against a piercing blue sky, the crisp air and the dramatic vistas of the Rocky Mountains refreshed them from their many hours on the road.

After traveling down the steep grade a few hundred yards, the trailer began to rock violently, pushing the car from side to side. Other cars traveling in both directions tried to move out of the way of what appeared to be a catastrophic accident in the making. Anne fought unsuccessfully to control the car, the tires squealing as the trailer tossed the car in every direction. Just as Anne started to step on the brakes, her roommate screamed, “Anne, don’t step on the brakes, step on the gas!” Anne later said that accelerating the car went against every instinct—she wanted the car to slow down before they crashed. Within a few seconds of stepping on the gas the trailer settles down and began to roll smoothly behind the car.

Anne admitted later that the steep downhill grade made her drive tentatively. Gravity took over and the heavy trailer began to move faster than the car. It quickly stepped out of its rightful position as a “follower” and attempted to pass the car with nearly disastrous results. Stepping on the gas caused the car to pull the trailer as intended, but Anne had to speed up to get the car to move ahead and reassert its position as the “leader.”

Organizations today face some of the most difficult conditions imaginable…the turbulence index is off the charts. News reports warn of a new impending disaster every day. While leaders understandably are uncertain and tentative, now is actually the time to step on the gas. Now is the time to lead…to get out in front, perhaps as never before.

What can leaders do to “step on the gas?” Four actions come to mind:

1. Provide inspired direction—remind members of your organization of the mission. Help them to remember why the product or service you provide to your customers is valuable, noble and meaningful. If paid fairly, people will always work harder for meaning than they will for money.

2. Provide your followers with the opportunity for an “emotional exchange.” Let them express their concerns, worries, and uncertainties. A worker’s act of expressing a concern goes a long way toward mitigating the anxiety that worry creates. When you as the leader listen deeply to people’s concerns, it conveys respect. Don’t you work harder for someone who conveys respect for you?

3. Build trust with the member of your organization. You do this by keeping your commitments—do what you say you’re going to do. Also, make sure you run by the same rules you expect all members of the organization to observe. Authenticity builds trust—you don’t have to be the “Shell Answer Man.” You may not know the answer, so don’t try to finesse your way through.

4. Communicate your plans—make your thinking visible. Members of your organization need to know what is happening, why, when, how, and who is affected. Even though the news may not be what people want to hear, they value candor.

Your natural instincts may be to slow down and be cautious given the gravity of the circumstances, but the counterintuitive answer is right. Step on the gas. Get out in front. Your organization needs skillful leadership today—“for such a time as this.”

Tim Irwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and leading authority on leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and executive selection.

 

We hope you found this article about “4 Ways to Lead During Turbulent Times” helpful.  If you have questions or need expert tax or family office advice that’s refreshingly objective (we never sell investments), please contact us or visit our Family office page  or our website at www.GROCO.com.  Unfortunately, we no longer give advice to other tax professionals gratis.

To receive our free newsletter, contact us here.

Subscribe our YouTube Channel for more updates.

Alan Olsen, CPA

Alan Olsen, is the Host of the American Dreams Show and the Managing Partner of GROCO.com.  GROCO is a premier family office and tax advisory firm located in the San Francisco Bay area serving clients all over the world.

Alan L. Olsen, CPA, Wikipedia Bio

 

 

GROCO.com is a proud sponsor of The American Dreams Show.

 

American-Dreams-Show-Accounting-firm-in-ca-cpa-tax-advisors-groco-alan-olsen

The American Dreams show was the brainchild of Alan Olsen, CPA, MBA. It was originally created to fill a specific need; often inexperienced entrepreneurs lacked basic information about raising capital and how to successfully start a business.

Alan sincerely wanted to respond to the many requests from aspiring entrepreneurs asking for the information and introductions they needed. But he had to find a way to help in which his venture capital clients and friends would not mind.

The American Dreams show became the solution, first as a radio show and now with YouTube videos as well. Always respectful of interview guest’s time, he’s able to give access to individuals information and inspiration previously inaccessible to the first-time entrepreneurs who need it most.

They can listen to venture capitalists and successful business people explain first-hand, how they got to where they are, how to start a company, how to overcome challenges, how they see the future evolving, opportunities, work-life balance and so much more..

American Dreams discusses many topics from some of the world’s most successful individuals about their secrets to life’s success. Topics from guest have included:

Creating purpose in life / Building a foundation for their life / Solving problems / Finding fulfillment through philanthropy and service / Becoming self-reliant / Enhancing effective leadership / Balancing family and work…

Untitled_Artwork copy 4

MyPaths.com (Also sponsored by GROCO) provides free access to content and world-class entrepreneurs, influencers and thought leaders’ personal success stories. To help you find your path in life to true, sustainable success & happiness.  It’s mission statement:

In an increasingly complex and difficult world, we hope to help you find your personal path in life and build a strong foundation by learning how others found success and happiness. True and sustainable success and happiness are different for each one of us but possible, often despite significant challenges.

Our mission at MyPaths.com is to provide resources and firsthand accounts of how others found their paths in life, so you can do the same.

Posted in

How Can the Wealthy Cut Taxes on Their Social Security Benefits?

Everyone works a lifetime with the idea that at some point they can retire and collect Social Security benefits throughout their so-called “golden years.” However, when it comes to Social Security, this year is not a good time to be a high-income earner. Medicare Part B Premiums are expected to rise for high-income retirees. So,…

Mansion Ends Up Getting Owner in Hot Water for Tax Evasion

Is it possible to hide anything from the IRS? Even when you think you’re safe, it appears the IRS has an eye in the sky. That eye seems to be all reaching, at least in Pennsylvania. A wealthy real estate developer and CEO of Automated Health Systems owns a luxurious 32,400 square-foot mansion that apparently…

Why Are Your Property Taxes So Darn High?

While the majority of people pay the most attention to the taxes they see regularly, i.e. income and sales tax, there are other taxes that cost you a lot of money that you may tend to forget about. One of those taxes that cost a lot, but that kind of goes unnoticed is property tax.…

IRS Is a Lot More Open to Compromise These Days

It used to be that if you owed a large debt to the IRS you didn’t have a great chance of catching a break. Even though the IRS has always been able to compromise, at least a little, the tax agency has never been really eager to do so. Some people might not even be…