On a regular basis, leaders are confronted with situations that cause anxiety. How we learn (and it is learned) to handle that anxiety is one of the key factors in how well we will lead over the long haul. Those who don't handle anxiety well will sabotage their leadership either through emotional responses that are inappropriate or through inner turmoil that eats at their gut - and often both. It is one of the reasons some very bright people choose not to lead. When someone says, "It's not worth the hassle," what they are often saying is that "I don't have the tools to manage the anxiety that comes with leadership."
Anxiety is the uncertainty that comes from any number of situations leaders face. It can be conflict within the team that needs to be resolved, actions or words of a team member that we assume are disloyal to us, seemingly dumb things that someone may have done or situations we just don't know how to confront. I can think of a long list of people and situations that caused me anxiety as a leader, especially as a young leader. That anxiety, however, must be managed if we are to act with discernment and wisdom rather than with an emotional, angry or knee-jerk response.
How do we manage our emotions in these situations and save ourselves from ourselves? Here are some suggestions:
One: Don't act precipitously. Acting out of our initial response will usually exacerbate the situation rather than resolve it.
Two: Manage your anxiety - it is wasted energy. I often simply visualize a drawer in my mind where I place those things causing me anxiety and lock it until it is time to deal with the issue.
Three: Don't assume you have all the facts. This is why time is on your side. Often when acting out of emotion we are also acting out of factual ignorance. Getting the whole story often puts things into perspective.
Four: Don't assume ill motives. When we get all the facts we often discover that the motives of others were not poor whether what they did was wise or not.
Five: Consult with a trusted colleague to get a different perspective on the issue and ensure that you are taking a wise course to address it.
Six: Think through how you want to approach the issue with the individual(s) involved for the most positive outcome. This takes time. Don't address it until you have a plan for your approach.
Seven: Have a conversation with the individual(s) involved. A conversation is different than an attack. Often in talking the situation out we come to understanding and mutually agreeable solutions.
Eight: Consider what everyone can learn from the situation. In other words, assigning blame is often not as healthy as just seeing what lessons can be learned moving forward.
Nine: It goes without saying for Christian leaders that asking for God's wisdom in the situation is critical.
Posted from Oakdale, MN
For more help in understanding emotions in leadership, my new book Deep Influence deals with this in greater depth.
EFCA and ReachGlobal Response
Nepal Earthquake Response Fact Sheet – 4/25/15 Edition
1)
What happened?
A 7.8 magnitude
earthquake struck Nepal yesterday, April 25, 2015. Damage reports are still coming in, but
it appears to be a major crisis. Our partner, the Nepali Church Planting
Movement, has had all 13 of its churches affected in some manner. We are coordinating our efforts with OC
International, with an assessment team traveling tomorrow, and more people on
Tuesday. An Initial $10,000 in immediate response funds is in the process of
being transferred.
2) Yes, we are responding.
·
We have partners in the area impacted.
·
We have started to initiate contacts with other
partner ministries involved in the work in Nepal, as well as other NGO’s and
relief organizations.
·
For up to date info go to http://go.efca.org/resources/project/nepal-earthquake-response ….info will be put here by early evening.
3)
What should I tell someone who wants to help?
·
Please send
funds !!!
·
Please
stay tuned for more information to follow.
Collect name and email for anyone we have contact with. Direct them to
email crisisresponse@efca.org with their contact information, or call our
Crisis Response office at 985-893-0218
ext 7.
·
We are
not sending teams in initial stages. Mark is coordinating with our ReachGlobal Asia
Division. They through partners will be
heading there asap to assess and determine needs/strategies with our local
partners.
4)
What kinds of needs do we have – prioritized.
·
Donations will be the immediate and priority
need.
·
We ARE
NOT interested in receiving bulk donations (eg. pallet loads) of
gift-in-kind
5)
Where should I direct them for more info?
6)
What should people give to?
·
Give to ‘Earthquake
Relief 21709-3970’
7)
Can we give stuff…not just money?
·
No. We
are not accepting any gift in kind!!!!
8)
Who should I contact for more info or to help in
other ways?
·
Call mark lewis 717-439-3138
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal yesterday,
April 25, 2015. With the epicenter
between Kathmandu and Pokhara, major areas of Nepal have been hit very hard and
there have been many building collapses and the death toll continues to
rise. We have staff and partners on the
ground who are assessing the situation.
We have been working in partnership in church planting efforts in
various parts of Nepal and in response to this crisis are mobilizing to provide
aid and relief. We (Reach Global and OC
International) are currently assessing needs and developing our plan of action
in partnership together. This includes
organizing relief to reduce the suffering of the people and mobilizing the
church to minister to physical needs as well as bring the gospel. We also ask you to pray for the nation and for
relief efforts. As we talked to our
partners about needs, of course the first request is for prayer and so we would
ask for you to mobilize your church to pray as this crisis unfolds and as we
seek to help. We also invite others to
join in partnership with us. Stephen
Chandra (International leader, Asia for EFCA Reach Global) and Gill Nash
(Assistant Asia Area Director, OC) are planning to travel to Kathmandu as soon
as possible to further assess and direct efforts for relief.