When You Freak Out, Your People Freak Out

When You Freak Out, Your People Freak Out

Posted on 05. Feb, 2010 by admin in Leadership

Hey everyone! I’m Kat Davis, part of the Cultivate Her team. I’m also author of the online daily devotional called The Daily Verse as well as Founder of my artist development company The Brown Book Agency. We represent several amazing artists and truly love what we do and the people and talent we represent! I’m honored to get to be a part of the lineup of the amazing wisdom and insight that’s already been presented in this blog – so hopefully my thoughts today will be another building block for your efforts toward solidifying your ever-growing foundation necessary for being an effective leader.

The topic I’d like to banter with you about is “when you freak out, your people freak out.” Think about what being a leader means. It means leading a cause, a charge and most importantly – people. If you are leading people, they are watching you. They’re watching you when you’re inspiring them and they’re watching you when you’re struggling to keep your head above water. If you’ve decided to allow yourself to be put in a position of leadership, you have to accept that part of that that means you’re being watched. What you do sets the tone for your whole organization and it affects each person that comes into contact with your organization.

You have the ability to set the tone for the way that you and the people you lead respond to situations you’re presented with. I’m not saying that you need to have a poker-face and never be moved. I’m saying that you need to consider balancing honesty and authenticity with maturity and responsibility. When presented with a situation that has the ability to make your head spin – take a moment. Think about what has happened. Think about what needs to happen. Think about the people involved. Think about the solutions. Short of a blazing fire or a gushing flood, nothing is so urgent that you can’t take 30 seconds to stop and think before you react. Your reaction in crisis will set the tone for how your whole organization will respond. So take a moment and consider that not only are you facing whatever is coming your way, but so are your people. They need to be led not only to the solution but to the mindset needed to get to the solution in once piece.If you freak out, they will freak out. If you are calm and reasonable, it will inspire them to be.

Now…there’s nothing to say that you can’t close your office door, retreat to the restroom or crawl under your desk while no one’s looking and do a little freak-out dance, but just consider your audience when doing so. It will set the tone for how you and your people respond to the moments of crisis that inevitably arise.

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6 Responses to “When You Freak Out, Your People Freak Out”

  1. Eve Annunziato

    05. Feb, 2010

    I'm freaking out about this post!! But, in a good way! I LOVE IT. So true, a leader's attitude and demeanor works as a trickle-down effect. I really appreciate your point about the balance of truth, grace, maturity and responsibility. Now that's a great word, Cat.

    "It will set the tone for how you and your people respond to the moments of crisis that inevitably arise." Amen, to that, Sister!

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  2. jcatron

    06. Feb, 2010

    Wow, this is so true! Even when you think you're playing the poker face and trying to cover whatever you are freaking out about, the people you lead sense it and react to how you are leading. Just a reminder of the great responsibility of leadership. Thanks Kat!

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  3. Lori Zimbardi

    06. Feb, 2010

    Great post. My boss has taught me to gauge things. Is it a 911 call? A trip to the ER? Urgent Care? or can you call for an appointment next week? Now I can put things in true perspective before I decide to freak out about something. It has helped me in ministry and dealing with people that come into the church for help. My volunteers have been able to see a difference and we all use the terms now.

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  4. Hilda

    09. Feb, 2010

    Great Post Kat! I need to remember this!

    Reply to this comment

  5. Sarah S

    10. Feb, 2010

    loved this post Kat. someone's always watching unless i'm sleeping. they better not be then! i can think of several instances when i've been in a crunch and became stressed because of someone else's stress. OR i've been the cause of panic. It's amazing how much people feed off of one another. thank you for this!

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