Crisis Reveals Capability

Many leaders have recounted that when they were the strongest as a leader, it was not a time of peace and certainty. It was in the chaos of facing and overcoming challenges that they are most proud to look back on in their leadership journeys. That is because we often don’t know what we are truly capable of until we face adversity. We can sit and think of hypothetical scenarios all day, but overcoming the experience itself is the true testament of one’s leadership ability.

We have all heard stories of moms displaying super-human strength to save their children from disaster. This is a part of the fight or flight response, which releases adrenaline into the body, enhancing a person’s mental and physical strength and temporarily dulling their pain receptors. While many of those instances are extreme displays of how a crisis can reveal capability, those stories are helpful in understanding that stress is a contributing motivator for overcoming hardships of any kind.

As Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” The challenges that we face can either break us or make us stronger and more resilient. It is easy to guide people through the calm moments, but it takes skill to lead people through tough times. This sometimes requires the leader to take action even when they’re unsure of what to do, but they learn as they go, and they help others learn as well.

Don’t be discouraged when you’re going through a rough period with your team. Keep pushing forward and giving it your all. You never know how much you will grow from the experience, because after all, crisis often reveals capability.

-Meghan Slaughter