Leaders are not allowed to panic.
The broken spirit of a leader is demonstrated by his powerful response in moments of crises. Love-driven leaders need and want to be at their best when the team is at its worst.
Fires are never a surprise to experienced leaders. We expect the unexpected because we have seen so many similar situations.
I respect the calm of an airline pilot as the plane enters into air turbulence: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are entering some bumpy airspace, and it’s important to fasten your seat belt and remain seated. We experience this every day, and I want you to know this is normal and we have everything under control.”
What if the pilot made the announcement in this manner: “Everyone get in your seat and stay there! We’ve encountered windy airspace, and I’m not sure this old plane will hold together. I’ve never seen anything like this! I’ll do my best to get us through this, but you need to know this is bad! I suggest we all pray.”
Doesn’t it seem true that the volume of a voice increases with the degree of leader worry?
Love-motivated leaders are calm and calming in any storm because they have been trained by experiencing similar storms.
In the moment of crisis, a true leader gives no thought to his personal outcome. Leaders sacrifice the luxury of personal worry to quickly enact solutions for the team.
Calm, solution-oriented leadership is what Jesus modeled.
As they sailed, He fell asleep. Then a wind storm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in danger. They came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. —Luke 8:23-24
