Your Composure Is Contagious

The smallest problem launched him into crisis mode. I once worked with a colleague who lacked composure and seemed to live in a state of panic. His credentials were impressive, but he could not stay calm, and he made his team uneasy. Because he couldn't adapt to the unexpected, his tenure was short-lived.

How a leader responds to pressure is the clearest indicator of their preparedness, maturity and judgment. Composure shows up in attitude, body language and presence. Leadership has always been about elevating the performance and development of people, but in uncertain times it is equally about making them feel safe. Employees are tired of working in survival mode.

A composed leader sees adversity through the lens of opportunity. Instead of panicking, they step back, find the root cause and solve for it. Then they look for the opportunities that, had they been seen earlier, might have prevented the problem entirely. Plenty of crises begin where composure ends.

Seven habits keep composure intact when the pressure rises.

1. Don't Let Emotions Take Over

Seasoned leaders don't yell or become overly animated when times get tough. You can express concern and care without letting your emotions become a distraction. When feelings take over, people start to question whether you are being objective. Composure is not coldness. It is emotional discipline in service of others.

2. Don't Take Things Personally

Decisions don't always unfold logically. When you take setbacks personally, you get defensive, feel the need to justify every move and let the noise crowd out your thinking. Stay calm and keep your attention on the problem, not on your pride.

3. Keep a Positive Mental Attitude

People watch their leader's behavior, relationships and demeanor most closely in difficult moments. Manage a narrative that keeps them hopeful, grounded in truth. A positive attitude can neutralize chaos and help the organization course correct. Your team will feed off your energy, so make sure it is worth feeding on.

4. Face Your Fears Directly

Early in the pandemic, someone called me and said, "Gosh, the magnitude of this crisis is enormous, and I just can't put my arms around it." I respected that, and we talked it through. Then, when I paused, I asked, "Have you ever had a level of hardship that affected you personally and professionally at the same time?" Had they ever been forced to do something new in their career, and did they act on it or play it safe? Mostly, they had played it safe.

That call gave me an even deeper appreciation of my parents, who had to start all over again. People who have been shaken to the core face a crisis with perspective. When you start to fear your circumstances, panic freezes the mind. So when fear creeps in, ask yourself: what is the worst that can realistically happen? If you are honest about it and willing to face it, you will usually find the situation is manageable. The more adversity you work through, the less power uncertainty holds over you.

5. Respond Decisively

Composed leaders speak with conviction and clarity, even when they don't have every answer. That does not mean pretending. It means being clear about what you know, what you don't and what happens next. Decisiveness gives people something steady to hold onto while the rest of the picture comes into focus.

6. Take Accountability

Leaders are most composed when they are fully committed to resolving the issue. Accountability means you have decided to own the problem and act before it gets out of hand. The moment a leader steps forward and takes responsibility, the temperature in the room drops. People stop looking for someone to blame and start looking for solutions.

7. Act Like You Have Been There Before

Leaders with strong presence approach problems with grace, as if they have worked through similar situations many times. They are patient, they listen actively and they show compassion for what others are experiencing. Think of the best customer support professional you have ever spoken with. Their calm makes your hardest problem feel solvable. That is the effect composure has on a team.

Composure Travels in Writing, Too

Composure has to come through in messages and in the tone of a single announcement, not only in the room. A rushed, anxious note can ripple through an organization faster than any hallway conversation ever did. Before you communicate in a tense moment, pause, reread and ask how it will land for someone reading it alone.

Rehearse Calm Before You Need It

• Notice what your body language and tone signal during your next difficult conversation.
• Write down the worst realistic outcome of the problem that worries you most, and your plan if it happens.
• Take visible ownership of one unresolved issue on your team.
• Before sending a tense message, wait ten minutes and reread it.

It is easy to lose composure when concern turns into worry and worry turns into fear. The best leaders stay calm and in control, step back to evaluate the cards they have been dealt and face problems head-on. That is how they build credibility when crisis hits, and a culture where no one needs to panic.

Want to explore these ideas further? Learn more about my work on leadership, identity and conviction at www.theglennllopis.com.