Being poised under pressure

In the middle of a challenging time, feeling anxious is normal. Nonetheless, to instill trust and engage others, you must project strength and decisiveness. Of course, you need to be authentic as well, which is where acting like you have everything under control when you don’t feel like you do can get tricky. What helps you rise above, says Kim Lubel, CEO of CST Brands, is realizing that you are no different from any other leader. “Everyone is a little uncertain as well,” she explained.

During a crisis, women leaders are often tasked with showing empathy as well as demonstrating competence. According to Sylvia Hewlett, “For women in particular, winning more latitude in the public’s eye depends on showcasing activities that demonstrate you care about the disenfranchised.”

Take Jill Campbell of Cox Communications: A few years ago, she had to consolidate some of Cox’s units as the company underwent some changes. “It was hard for our leaders to get through this time,” she told me.

Jill led the initiative with the intention of treating everyone with dignity and integrity. She tried to consider how the people who lost their jobs would feel as well as how the “survivors” would respond. The controlled yet empathetic manner in which she handled the layoffs earned her the respect of not only the affected employees but also the department heads under her. Following her lead gave them a compassionate yet effective way to deal with a stressful and difficult situation.

Leadership presence involves humility. As Andrea Zintz, career coach and president of Strategic Leadership Resources, clarifies, humility is not about diminishing your stature but rather involves benevolence, consideration, generosity, and graciousness. By keeping humility in mind, you rise above the challenges to build trust.

Deborah DeHaas, chief inclusion officer for Deloitte, has created “Lessons in Leadership: My Rules to Live By,” which help her remain poised under pressure while acting with humility. They were inspired by her mother, who was a strong role model. Deb wrote the rules early in her career as core values to guide her through good and bad times. They help her maintain her composure during the challenges she faces in her leadership roles at Deloitte. The rules were also tested when her previous employer scaled back its operations and later closed its doors in the early 2000s. Deb told me that during this dark time she woke up several mornings at three a.m. wondering what the day would bring. Guided by these core beliefs, she was able to lead with compassion.

Deb generously shares her rules below.

Lessons in Leadership: My Rules to Live By©

• Be true to yourself

• Do the right thing

• Remember that actions speak louder than words

• Put first things first

• Just do it

• Don’t forget that there’s no I in team

• Never underestimate the power of mentors, networks, and sponsors

• Embrace lifelong learning

• Follow the Golden Rule

• Leave a legacy

Confidence spark

To keep poised in the face of a challenge, give yourself time to explore your reaction to the situation and what choices you have moving forward. If you are not in touch with your feelings about what is happening, you are less likely to act in your best interest or in the best interests of the others involved. Take a moment to pinpoint your emotions, thoughts, and beliefs about the crisis. Then make a list of strategic actions you can take and the results you think they may yield—including how the people affected might respond.