How Will YOU Face the Storm Ahead?
September 2022 will stick with me as the month of catastrophic storms.
Even though we were untouched by the weather in Arizona...many of my family and friends prepared...lived through and are now cleaning up from these storms. It started with Earl, then Fiona and last came Ian...it's been a tough few weeks for many. For others...the impact will be felt for many years to come... representing a major life change. For the fortunate few...it's "what was the big deal?"
You Know It's Coming And Decisions are Made
I sat on the sidelines and witnessed varying degrees of responses to the impending storms. What is fascinating to me about a Hurricane is that you know it's coming so you have some time to prepare. You don't know EXACTLY where it will make landfall or how STRONG it will be but you know you are in the cone of uncertainty... so impact is imminent.
Armed with this information...everyone approaches it differently...
Denial. If you have ever prepared for a storm that fizzled and felt duped by it...you tend to be the person that denies it will ever REALLY impact you. You lived through them before...it's fine. Devastation is for others...not YOU. I'll prepare a bit but I'm not evacuating or anything crazy like that. You proudly embrace your denial.
Gambler. You hedge your bets and play the odds. It's not that you wouldn't evacuate...but based on your situation...the predictions...you will make a decision that seems "most likely". If you decide to "ride it out" you've got the generator...supplies and contingency plans worked out...including post storm arrangements. If things go terribly wrong....you are shocked... because you ALWAYS gamble and win.
Safety First. You heed the warnings...follow the instructions and guidance... take no chances. You board up the house...tie everything down....pack up the essentials and head out of the area...just like they told you to do. If it's a dud....you had a few days away...if the worst "comes to pass" you will live to rebuild another day. BTW - I don't have the statistics but I believe very few have the courage to actually do this as unbelievable as this sounds.
Work is Like This Sometimes Too
As I reflected on this as I had my coffee this morning...I realized that there are times in our work lives where...
Challenges are ahead...
We don't know all the specifics or EXACTLY how it will impact us...
We just know we are in the cone of uncertainty!
The reactions to this knowledge is eerily similar with those in Denial...some Gamblers and those that are Safety First.
My conclusion is...that each persona is equally dug in to their point of view and very rarely can agree or intersects. This can result in frustration and teammates becoming disenfranchised. Given the size and intensity of the "storm" ahead the ramifications of these decisions have long lasting repercussions.
In Closing...
Like with most things in life...there is no simple answer but here are a few thoughts from the hurricane example...
Pay attention to what the data models are telling you
Just because YOU have survived a storm before doesn't mean you should ignore the warnings
Listen/speak to clarify NOT just to convince...people need time to absorb the information in their own way
Evacuation is NOT a sign of weakness...it's a sign of strength
Prepare accordingly...be ready for the worst and hope for the best
If you decide to ride it out and ignore the warnings....no one can rescue you at the height of the storm so hopefully you chose wisely
There will be those who will always judge your decisions. Hindsight is a fickle friend. It can mean that you made informed decisions that ALL went your way (I was right all along) or it can mean that you felt you had no choice but to do what you did and it had devastating consequences (I can't believe that actually happened).
When other people's lives or lively hood is at stake or customer facing implications loom large...how will YOU face the storm?
Leadership Questions of the Week for You:
How did the September storms impact YOU? Did you have a front row seat? Friends or Family impacted? Or were you a casual observer from afar?
What do YOU think of the 3 approaches of denial, gambler and safety first? Is there others you would add or change?
What do YOU think of the connection to our work lives? Do YOU have a situation that you are facing that resembles an on coming storm? Do YOU have a better analogy?
What are YOUR suggestions or observations to make the best decisions to face an oncoming storm?
Thanks for reading….and remember…YOU make a difference!
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