Independent Banker - December 2018 - 24

PORTFOLIO
A setback can all but consume your thinking
and disrupt all areas of your life for a period of
time. It's human nature to get angry, blame others,
seek sympathy from allies and even retreat
in a fog of self-doubt. Whether leading a team,
a division or an organization, leaders give a tremendous
amount of themselves personally, so
the failure feels personal and can take its toll.
Your leadership crucible, while diffi cult to experience,
can be a crucial step in your development
and can in many cases be a launching point for a
renewed trajectory. While it's important to allow
for a period of grieving and to lick your wounds,
it's also important to begin a process of self-refl
ection and acceptance. Facing the reality of the
situation from a perspective of " What is there to
learn? " can often jumpstart the important steps
needed to rebound and recover.
Leading by Example
By Chris Lorence, ICBA
Surviving a
leadership
crucible
E
very leader has setbacks. Whether by professional
misstep, unexpected market shift
or tactical miscalculation, every leader will from
time to time experience a period where they may
feel punched in the gut. Everything is going along
as planned and suddenly, seemingly without
warning, you're instead picking up pieces of what
was your career-or worse, scrambling to control
a situation that appears to have taken on a life
of its own. What do you do when all that you've
worked for is no longer your reality?
This seemingly disastrous shift can best be
described as a " leadership crucible. " As a leader,
the steps you take to recover can be one of the most
important learning opportunities of your career.
24 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q December 2018
Chris Lorence
(chris.lorence@
icba.org) is ICBA
group executive
vice president-
member
engagement and
strategy
So, what can leaders who experience a leadership
setback do to help them begin again? These
four self-refl ections require honesty, candor and
vulnerability but open the door to developing
new skills and strength.
Q Accountability: Being accountable isn't
about accepting fault or blaming yourself for
what transpired. Instead, being accountable
allows you to take responsibility for the factors
you did have control over. Did you miss
a blind spot because you were overly focused
on success? Were you spread too thin? Did
you not ask enough questions and instead rely
on your gut? Did you overestimate your own
capabilities or those of others on your team?
Q Acceptance: If you could do it over again,
what would you do diff erently? What are the
steps or decisions you made that led to the
setback? Would you take a diff erent approach
or action knowing what you know now?
Q Action: What is your plan to reboot? While
there may be a period of feeling helpless or a
sense that you can't recover, you can, as long
as you have a plan. Is it time to change roles
or jobs, or does this inspire you to learn new
skills or start a new career altogether?
Q Amnesty: It's important, after all the stress of
a leadership crucible, that you give yourself a
break. Being a leader isn't easy, and even the
most seasoned leader has setbacks. Forgiving
yourself will begin not only renewal but a new
perspective on the opportunity to grow.
Independent Banker - December 2018

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