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Being a leader is not always the easiest path to walk on, especially when you have people looking up to you, whether it’s your small business of just a few employees, a larger organisation with hundreds of people counting on your decisions, or even in your family life with a partner and children depending on you to lead.
It’s hard enough to make the right decisions when things are going well and falling into line in your favour, but what happens when the world seems like it’s turning against you and you have to step up to the plate and make the right decisions? Being a leader in challenging times can be daunting, but it also gives you the opportunity to show what you are made of, and you will undoubtedly come through the other side a stronger and more confident individual, ready to make those hard but necessary decisions.
There are some key things to remember when you feel like you’re having to work doubly hard just to maintain things, and being a leader is an opportunity for you to thrive rather than be swamped by your circumstances.
Be Decisive And Focus Yourself
Challenging times bring unique and difficult situations right into your lap and you have to deal with them one way or another. The best thing to do is be proactive and take the bull by the horns when it comes to assessing your priorities and taking the decisions that need to be made, however hard they may seem.
You need to set your eyes on the final goal of what you want to achieve to keep your business running smoothly, being decisive means actually making a decision and not deliberating too much for too long on certain issues, as this procrastination can make you seem weak to your team.
Take Pride In Taking Responsibility
There’s no use passing the buck in tough times, it will make you feel less in control and feel disempowered. Take the decision that makes sense to your head rather than the one that seems right to your heart, and see the bigger picture at play.
A leader is in the place they are because in the good times they have taken responsibility for decisions which has led them to their high position and status, so don’t let that slip and show your employees that you are not panicking, that you are in control and you are making steps forward for the good of the business. Now is not the time to shirk responsibility, but rather embrace it.
Always Have A Vision
Keep your eyes on the prize during tough times, and remember that this is a temporary circumstance that you need to knuckle down through before you come out on the other side. When you lose your vision, be it personal or on a company level, you then become susceptible to loss of motivation and loss of direction – both of which can be disastrous should they continue for a long time.
Whether it is a certain amount of turnover that you need to maintain, or that you don’t let too many staff go during the process, having that final goal will motivate and encourage you, and help you to make the right decisions when needed.
Remember You Are Not Alone
Listen to other people and take advice at this critical juncture, you don’t have to do it all alone. If you have a team in place, use them effectively and accept their help, play on their strengths so you don’t feel such a burden, but you will still be in control of the situation. It’s always important to hear other people’s point of view even if you don’t accept it or put it into action, but what it does mentally for you is help to get a wider perspective of the situation.