MAINTAIN COMPOSURE
WHY IT MATTERS
It is the leader’s role to set the tone for everyone else. A small ripple created by a leader can create waves in an organization. Because of the microscope fashioned on a leader, it is critical that they maintain their composure no matter how difficult, stressful, or complex the situation is that they are facing. Leaders that maintain their composure in the hard times provide people the steadiness they need to continue moving forward and ultimately succeed. They give their people a strong and trusted foundation to stand on. Leaders that lose their composure when things get tough hold the organization hostage by the way their emotional outbursts dampen the work climate and the mood and demeanor of everybody else.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that maintain composure know they set the emotional tone for the whole organization. They know others look to them for cues in terms of how to feel, act, or react. They are seasoned in handling stressful or difficult situations. No matter the occasion, they are the masters of their emotions. They know they only have one chance to get things right, and that it can take years to repair a reputation that is lost through a single moment of unrestrained behavior. They are careful to not let their fear, pressure, or personal feelings get in the way of their work and decisions. They control themselves when others don’t.
Leaders that maintain composure feel strong emotions on the inside without letting them translate into emotional outbursts on the outside. They bite their tongue. They control their non-verbal messages. They can feel angry, worried, scared, embarrassed, stressed, anxious, nervous, or frustrated, but they always appear to be calm. They constantly maintain their professionalism. They refuse to let their emotions get the best of them.
Leaders that maintain composure don’t back down from what they feel is right when difficulties present themselves. They maintain their convictions. They don’t bow down to pressure. They don’t give in to anxiety. They face roadblocks with the confidence that things will work out. When things do go wrong, instead of panicking, they think things through and rightly judge what needs to happen.
Leaders that maintain composure accept criticism and challenges rather than avoid or hide from them. They don’t get flustered. They always maintain their dignity. They are not afraid to be seen as less than perfect. They don’t care what people think of them. They thrive on feedback. They receive criticism without letting it negatively affect them. They are willing to defend their position, but they are careful in what they say and how they say it. Instead of letting things fester, they let things go and allow themselves to move on.
Leaders that maintain composure look for opportunities to be a steadying influence on others. They anticipate things that could collectively cause other people to lose their composure. In these moments, they provide a calm atmosphere that helps others to navigate safely. They look at the world through long-term lenses. Where others might overreact, they don’t. They keep the bigger picture constantly in mind.
BELIEFS
BEST PRACTICES
SELF-REFLECTION
It is the leader’s role to set the tone for everyone else. A small ripple created by a leader can create waves in an organization. Because of the microscope fashioned on a leader, it is critical that they maintain their composure no matter how difficult, stressful, or complex the situation is that they are facing. Leaders that maintain their composure in the hard times provide people the steadiness they need to continue moving forward and ultimately succeed. They give their people a strong and trusted foundation to stand on. Leaders that lose their composure when things get tough hold the organization hostage by the way their emotional outbursts dampen the work climate and the mood and demeanor of everybody else.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that maintain composure know they set the emotional tone for the whole organization. They know others look to them for cues in terms of how to feel, act, or react. They are seasoned in handling stressful or difficult situations. No matter the occasion, they are the masters of their emotions. They know they only have one chance to get things right, and that it can take years to repair a reputation that is lost through a single moment of unrestrained behavior. They are careful to not let their fear, pressure, or personal feelings get in the way of their work and decisions. They control themselves when others don’t.
Leaders that maintain composure feel strong emotions on the inside without letting them translate into emotional outbursts on the outside. They bite their tongue. They control their non-verbal messages. They can feel angry, worried, scared, embarrassed, stressed, anxious, nervous, or frustrated, but they always appear to be calm. They constantly maintain their professionalism. They refuse to let their emotions get the best of them.
Leaders that maintain composure don’t back down from what they feel is right when difficulties present themselves. They maintain their convictions. They don’t bow down to pressure. They don’t give in to anxiety. They face roadblocks with the confidence that things will work out. When things do go wrong, instead of panicking, they think things through and rightly judge what needs to happen.
Leaders that maintain composure accept criticism and challenges rather than avoid or hide from them. They don’t get flustered. They always maintain their dignity. They are not afraid to be seen as less than perfect. They don’t care what people think of them. They thrive on feedback. They receive criticism without letting it negatively affect them. They are willing to defend their position, but they are careful in what they say and how they say it. Instead of letting things fester, they let things go and allow themselves to move on.
Leaders that maintain composure look for opportunities to be a steadying influence on others. They anticipate things that could collectively cause other people to lose their composure. In these moments, they provide a calm atmosphere that helps others to navigate safely. They look at the world through long-term lenses. Where others might overreact, they don’t. They keep the bigger picture constantly in mind.
BELIEFS
- Leaders who maintain their composure in hard times are usually the leaders with the best chance to succeed.
- Long-term success is stalled by uncontrolled outbursts of emotion. A leader has to be able to feel emotion but not show it.
- Leaders have to be able to deal with criticism and forgive, forget, not let feelings fester, and move on.
- Maintaining composure means knowing each day something will try to rattle you, but being prepared to not let it.
- Preparing for “when” your composure will be attacked instead of wondering “if” it will be attacked is a leader’s course.
- Maintaining composure is motivated by the knowledge that you only get one chance as a leader to get something right.
- Actions, overreaction, words, and decisions are difficult to take back once they have been done or said.
- Great leaders know they set the tone for everyone else in the organization.
BEST PRACTICES
- Maintain your level of professionalism.
- Help others remain calm in high-stress situations.
- Do not be dissuaded from your course.
- Keep your cool under pressure.
- Do not hang onto things in the past.
- Do not show excessive emotion.
- Expect your composure to be challenged.
- Don’t allow yourself to be easily rattled.
- Accept criticism without being offended.
- Don’t get overly emotional.
- Don’t worry so much about what people think.
- Maintain control of your words and actions.
- Ensure to control your “non-verbal’s”.
- Do not say things you will later regret.
- Do not lose your self-control.
- Don’t change because of pressure or stress.
- Let things roll off your back quickly.
- Don’t be easily irritated by hard things.
- Keep calm and be sure to not lose your head.
- Feel pressure without feeling overwhelmed.
- Be a signal of stability to other people.
- Act in the way you want others to act.
SELF-REFLECTION
- Do I keep in mind the long-term view, or do I overreact to what happens in the moment?
- Do I know I only have one chance to get things right, or do I forget there are consequences to how I act?
- Do I channel my emotions to help me succeed, or do I let my emotions get in the way of my work?
- Do I do a good job of keeping my emotions in check, or do I wear my emotions on my sleeve?
- Do I maintain my professionalism at all times, or do I let a situation get the best of me and make me act poorly?
- Do I stay in control of myself no matter the pressure of the moment, or do I react negatively to stress?
- Do I remain cool, calm, and collected when things get tough, or do I panic when things go wrong?
- Do I act as a steadying influence on people, or do I cause other people to feel worry and anxiety?
- Don’t be afraid to act with strong emotion in the moments that require you to act with strong emotion.
- Don’t let others interpret your lack of strong emotion as a lack of passion for the work you are doing.
- Don’t inadvertently create a culture where people become too relaxed because they know you will never react strongly.
- My team members don’t know when I’m having a bad day.
- I’m known for keeping calm in the most stressful situations.
- I’ve been praised for how well I maintain professionalism.
- I never lose my temper.
- When emotions are high, people look to me to diffuse the situation.
- I can forgive and forget.