“The difference between a good leader and a great leader is one who learns to anticipate rather than react” – Craig Groeschel
Turbulence on a plane can be seen as a metaphor for the challenges and uncertainties that a team faces day in and day out in the pursuit of excellence and growth. Just as a plane encounters turbulence during its flight, a team often encounters turbulence in the form of obstacles, changes, and setbacks. The way we as leaders handle these turbulent situations can greatly impact our team’s morale, team culture, and our effectiveness to grow.
We recently were on a plane back from New York. During the flight, we hit some conditions that threw the bird around a bit. During the movement, after about 15 seconds of it, the pilot came over the speakers in a very calm voice stating that he was turning the seat belt fasten light on for a bit. He said that he was going to move altitudes a bit and once we hit the fresh air, we should have smooth sailing back into Detroit. With his experience in dealing with the turbulence, the tone he used, and the confidence in his voice put everybody on the plane at ease. It was a great example for us as leaders in times of the chaos we can face on a daily basis. Had he come over the radio freaking out that he didn’t know what he was going to do but maybe pray for the best, we’d all be freaking the heck out! Our Teams are the same way in the wake of adversity when they look to the team pilot(you and me) for clarity, peace, and direction.
Communication and Transparency: In times of turbulence, clear communication from the pilot (leaders) is crucial. If the pilot fails to provide updates about the turbulence and the plan to navigate through it, passengers (our team members) can become anxious and discouraged. Similarly, in a team, if leaders are not transparent about challenges, changes in direction, or setbacks, team members may feel left in the dark, leading to frustration and discouragement.
Adaptability and Decision-Making: A skilled pilot adjusts the flight path to minimize the impact of turbulence, making decisions to ensure passenger safety and comfort. In a team, effective leadership involves adaptability and sound decision-making during turbulent times. If leaders are indecisive or fail to adapt to changing circumstances, team members may lose confidence in their ability to navigate challenges, resulting in discouragement. And a discouraged team is a losing team. Nobody wins when the leader or the team is discouraged.
Staying Calm Under Pressure: Pilots are trained to remain calm and composed during turbulence, reassuring passengers that everything is under control. Similarly, leaders must maintain their composure during difficult periods to inspire confidence in their team. If leaders panic or exhibit stress, it can easily spread to team members, leading to a discouraged and unmotivated workforce.
Building Resilience: Turbulence can be an opportunity for a pilot to demonstrate their skills and experience. Similarly, leaders should use turbulent times as opportunities to build team resilience and unity. If leaders fail to instill a sense of purpose and resilience in their team, team members may lose motivation and become disheartened by the recurring challenges.
Empathy and Support: Just as passengers appreciate a pilot who shows concern for their well-being, team members value leaders who demonstrate empathy and provide support during tough times. When leaders neglect the emotional needs of their team and fail to offer guidance and encouragement, team morale can and will lose altitude QUICK!
Learning and Growth: Turbulence can serve as a learning experience for both pilots and team leaders. Pilots often use turbulence as an opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge. Similarly, effective leaders should encourage a culture of learning and growth within the team. If leaders do not promote learning from challenges and setbacks, team members may feel discouraged by the lack of progress or improvement.
Here is one thing I have learned throughout my leadership and growth journey. No matter what your kind of team you’re leading. Landscapers, a non-profit, a sales team, sports, home service pros, even leading in your home. Whenever you change altitudes (want to make changes towards bettering yourself and your people), you’re going to experience turbulence. Even when your people know the conditions you’re flying through are rough, people just get comfortable. Or worse, they are tired of the turbulent times, and they seek a new flight that is better navigated! I want to encourage you to stay the course! And when the turbulence is present, know that it is just temporary. Remain calm, keep your composure, let your team know what you’re up to, change your flying altitude, and keep moving forward! The passengers(your team) appreciates your experience and expertise!
I’ll land the plane with this… Just as turbulence is an inherent part of air travel, challenges and uncertainties are inevitable in team dynamics. Effective leadership during turbulent times involves clear communication, adaptability, composure, building of resilience, empathy, and a focus on learning and growing. Failure to exhibit these qualities can result in team discouragement and decreased performance. Leading through turbulent air requires a combination of personal growth for us as leaders, effective communication, adaptability, and a positive mindset. We MUST prioritize our well-being and create a supportive environment for our teams so that we can navigate adversity more successfully, fostering more resilience and growth. Remember, challenges(turbulence) are opportunities in disguise, and resilient leadership can lead to stronger, more capable teams and organizations. Leadership that navigates the turbulence with skill and confidence can (and will) ultimately lead to our teams cruising through smoother skies, greater successes, and bigger wins!