Meet Sarah* (not her real name), a deliberate and dynamic leader at a large hospital, who recently found herself navigating a series of obstacles that threatened to derail her team’s progress. From unexpected budget cuts to a significant shift in patient demands, Sarah’s ability to adapt and inspire her team has never been more important. As she faces these hurdles, her approach exemplifies the essence of resilience and resourcefulness in deliberate leadership.
These challenges are not unique to Sarah or to healthcare. Many are facing harsh conditions and are needing to step up and continue to lead in the face of uncertainty. Dealing with challenges and drawing on the resources you already have is an essential skill in both personal and professional life. This ability not only helps you navigate difficulties but also fosters resilience and creativity.
In working with Sarah and her team I have observed various strategies she employs to not only cope but to take advantage of these challenges despite the varying levels of adversity.
Understanding the Challenges
There is no shortage of challenges at the moment. Sarah and her team spend time to fully understand the challenges rather than create a buzz of activity that may or may not address what’s going on. Sarah and her team are discerning in understanding the challenge, the root cause and what they can do to address it.
Some prompts here for your consideration are:
What’s the type of challenge?
🔶Personal Challenges: These may include health issues, financial difficulties, or relationship problems.
🔶Professional Challenges: This can involve job-related stress, project deadlines, or workplace dynamics.
🔶 External Challenges: Events such as economic downturns, natural disasters, or societal changes can impact your life.
What will work best to address this challenge?
🔶What information is required to ensure there is a shared understanding of the challenge?
🔶 Who do you need in the room to work on this problem?
🔶 What needs to be covered, discussed, managed?
🔶 Who are the stakeholders you need to keep informed?
Recognizing Your Response
Do you have an awareness of how you typically respond to challenges?
Common responses include:
🔶 Avoidance: Ignoring the problem.
🔶 Panic: Overreacting to the situation.
🔶 Problem-Solving: Taking proactive steps to address the issue.
What’s the typical response in your team? Sarah and her team are happy to jump into problem solving once they have a good handle on the challenge. There are some members of the team though they tend to panic as their initial reaction. Sarah must work hard to acknowledge this feeling, but not let it impact the rest of the team.
Strategies for Dealing with Challenges
Sarah deliberately leads her team by modelling the behaviours that will support how they deal with challenges. This is what I have observed Sarah do:
Stay Calm and Assess the Situation
🔸 Take a Deep Breath: Pause to collect your thoughts.
🔸 Evaluate the Challenge: Identify the core issue and its implications.
Break It Down
🔸 Chunk the Problem: Divide the challenge into smaller, manageable parts.
🔸 Set Priorities: Focus on what needs immediate attention versus what can wait.
Explore Solutions
🔸 Brainstorm Options: List all possible solutions, even if they seem impractical at first.
🔸Seek Advice: Consult with friends, family, or colleagues who may have faced similar challenges.
Be Flexible and Adapt
🔸 Embrace Change: Sometimes, the best solution involves adjusting your expectations or approach.
🔸 Stay Open-Minded: Be willing to consider new ideas or methods.
Identify what can best support you
Sarah is a master at bringing in support so she can lead her tam effectiuvely through challenges. Here is how she does this:
Resourcefulness
🔸 Utilise Available Resources: Make the most of what you have at your disposal, whether it’s skills, tools, or networks.
🔸 Think Creatively: Find innovative ways to use existing resources to solve problems.
Focus on Strengths
🔸 Identify Your Strengths: Recognise your skills and attributes that can help you navigate challenges.
🔸 Leverage Support Systems: Reach out to friends, family, or colleagues who can provide assistance or encouragement.
Maintain a Positive Mindset
🔸 Practice Gratitude: Focus on what you have rather than what you lack.
🔸 Visualise Success: Picture overcoming the challenge and the benefits that will follow.
Dealing with challenges requires a combination of assessment, creativity, and resilience. By staying calm, breaking down problems, exploring solutions, and utilizing available resources, you can lead your team to effectively navigate difficulties. Embracing a positive mindset can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and learning.
Sarah and her team are well placed to continue to meet the demands they are dealing with, and ensuring there is growth and a strengthening of the team through these challenges. Their biggest challenge is fast becoming their biggest opportunity.
What’s yours?
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