The rollercoaster economy is just another ride for real leaders. So many people these days are exploring alternative career options in the face of one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Others are pursuing higher educational opportunities.
While it is a great time to consider different survival strategies, leaders everywhere must constantly keep a real edge. It does not mean rushing out to get a degree. On the contrary, it means the best leaders ride through the school of hard knocks to refine themselves as leaders.
First, the best leaders ride through the “School of Hard Knocks” and weather crisis situations. During troubled times, such as the troubled economy, only the best leaders find alternate ways to sharpen their skills. This might be through training or self-assessment. It might even be through professional development opportunities or 360-evaluation. Regardless, there are ways to explore the best ways to double resolve.
Also, good leaders are perpetually curious about how to juggle projects simultaneously. With competing priorities more pressing than ever, the best leaders manage competing tasks with the same approach to every other situation. Taking the time to separate mundane, important, and urgent tasks is a surefire way to manage projects and demands.
Finally, the economic situation is a training ground for leaders to rise above the confusion and respond accordingly. With so many people confused by the way to interact, respond, or assess the brevity of the economic situation, leaders who consistently take the high road set the pace for others. Setting an example for how to respond during this creates the foundation for reacting to any crisis.
By taking time to experience the ebb and flow of the economy, our greatest leaders will emerge and resurface. Watching the patterns and next steps of our greatest leaders who ride the “school of hard knocks” will set the trend for future leaders in the years to come.
