“The decisions you make today will determine the stories you tell tomorrow”
— Craig Groeschel
As leaders, we often find ourselves navigating challenges, but there’s a fine line between managing those challenges effectively and operating in survival mode. When we’re stuck in survival mode, we aren’t leading with clarity or purpose; we’re simply reacting to situations going on around us. Doing this for too long, this mindset can take a heavy toll on both the leader and the team. One of the primary dangers of leading in survival mode is the activation of what psychologists call the “reptile brain.” This is the part of the brain responsible for our fight, flight, or freeze responses. When we’re in survival mode, the “reptile brain” takes over, making us reactive, impulsive, and to put it bluntly, making foolish decisions!
Let’s dive into the repercussions of leading from this mindset!
In survival mode, stress and pressure hijack our ability to think clearly and strategically. The reptile brain kicks in, and we start to make hasty decisions, often without considering long-term consequences. This type of reaction may feel necessary in the moment, but it often leads to regrettable outcomes.
Here are some examples of leading reactively
- You react rather than respond: Instead of taking a step back to assess situations, we impulsively react, potentially escalating issues instead of resolving them.
- Focus on band-aids: Long-term strategy goes out the window. All energy is directed toward putting out fires, which can lead to overlooking larger opportunities for growth.
- Alienate our teams: In survival mode, communication suffers. Leaders can become more transactional, focusing solely on tasks rather than the people. This leads to disengagement with our people.
The Repercussions of Survival Mode Leadership
- Burnout Simply Becomes the Norm – When you lead in survival mode, you operate in a constant state of high alert. This stress eventually leads to burnout—not just for you, but for your team as well. People can only sustain high-pressure environments for so long before they start to mentally and emotionally check out.
- Erosion of Trust – A leader stuck in survival mode is often inconsistent day to day. One day, they’re decisive and driven; the next, they’re frazzled and all erratic. This inconsistency erodes trust within the team. People begin to question whether they can rely on you to lead them through challenges in a calm, collected manner.
- Foolish Decisions Lead to Bigger Problems – The reptile brain tends to prioritize immediate survival at the cost of long-term vision. This means we’re more likely to make rash decisions—ones that might seem to solve a problem today, but create bigger headaches down the road. Decisions made in survival mode often lead to regrettable consequences.
- Loss of Vision – Leadership is all about guiding your team toward a shared vision. When you’re leading in survival mode, that vision becomes clouded. You lose sight of your “why,” and the bigger picture gets swallowed up by day-to-day crises. Without vision, the team loses direction, and motivation starts to dwindle.
So how do we stop leading from survival mode and start leading with purpose again?
- Recognize the Signs – Being Aware is key. Acknowledge when you’re slipping into survival mode. Are you constantly reacting instead of thinking things through? Do you feel like you’re stuck in a whirlwind of daily problems with no time to focus on long-term goals? Recognizing the problem is the first step to solving it.
- Pause and Recalibrate – When you feel the reptile brain taking over, take a step back. Get out of the environment for a bit to focus. Pausing doesn’t mean you’re neglecting your responsibilities; it means you’re giving yourself the space to regain perspective. This could be as simple as taking a walk, praying, meditating, or blocking out time in your day to focus on strategic thinking. I feel so strongly about this one if you’re leading a fast paced organization, you literally need to do this DAILY to keep your focus!
- Delegate and Empower – DO NOT try to do everything yourself. Survival mode often comes when we feel overwhelmed. Delegate tasks to your team and trust them to handle their responsibilities. Empowering your team not only frees you up to focus on higher-level decisions, but it also builds trust and engagement!
- Refocus on the Long-Term Vision – Shift your focus back to your long-term goals. Survival mode tricks you into thinking only about the here and now, but being a strong leader requires a forward-thinking mindset. Revisit your vision, mission, and core values, and use them as a compass to guide your decisions!
“If you don’t choose to do it in leadership time up front, you do it in crisis management time down the road.”
— Stephen Covey
I’ll tie a bow on this teaching with this…
Survival mode is a natural response to stressful situations. We have ALL been there, and some of you are there RIGHT NOW. I cannot stress it enough when I say that this is not a place we can stay for long without consequences. Recognize when you’ve shifted into survival mode, or if you’re there now, take intentional steps to move back into a space of clarity and purpose. When you lead from a place of vision, insight, and empowerment, you and your team can and will absolutely crush it and thrive, not just survive – even in the face of stresses and challenges!
Now, more than ever, we need leaders who are moving the needle forward in a high capacity… It’s time to get out of the reptile brain mindset and back into your role as a high performing leader!