Various crises impact executives directly or indirectly; be they business-oriented, political, economic, national, global or even personal!
The crises roam around executives, always.
According to me, ‘Executive Crisis’
- is an emotionally significant change for leader
- forms situation/s beyond leader’s ability to cope up
- brings radical medium-to-long term impact in leader’s life
There are 14 different Myths about ‘Executive Crises’
These ‘Myths’ can be well understood via 14 distinct statements as under.
- Executive crises are natural and will resolve on their own.
Same like contagious disease; it will disappear without a vaccine being developed.
Possible?
- God will help; just worship your lord.
God helps those who help themselves. How about this one?
- Executive Crises stem from your karma.
You must have been a bad fellow or done something terribly wrong mistake in your corporate/ business life. This thought is a vicious trap.
Observe yourself — do you speak this statement in your mind, do you only answer and confirm to this statement, and do you finally blame yourself (your past life) for your current life sufferings!
If yes, then PLEASE take a step back.
It’s the myth. Believe me.
- It’s all because of the curse from past life.
If a blind child is born, parents have a choice: empower child for living an inspiring life or succumb to fate with pity. The choice is ours.
- You are in crises means you are a failure. (e.g. Closure of business)
Point 1 — You started a business, created products/services, and took risks — everyone cannot reach that stage.
Point 2 — Closing of business can lead opening of new opportunities! After closing three businesses, my friend found a mentor who unleashed her potential. She runs multi-state high profit business today. Keep pursuing and pushing.
- Executive crises are linked to your demographics.
Shocked? Some people believe in it.
- Sub-Myth 1: People in developed countries don't experience executive crises.
- Sub-Myth 2: Only middle-aged people face it.
- Sub-Myth 3: Female executives require more support in crises than male.
- She has not faced crisis, but she is an advisor to CXOs and Founders. So, she will resolve your crisis quickly.
Not necessary always.
When one experiences the crisis, and also experiences what it takes to be in CXO & Founders shoes, it brings different level of empathy.
That’s why the Crisis Coaching is required.
It ‘facilitates’ leaders in ‘co-creating’ interventions to lead life during and after crisis!
- All crises are predictable and preventable.
We cannot avoid or foresee every crisis. Knowing about a family member's impending death does not guarantee preventability. Despite efforts, seeing business dragging under financial stress and not achieving results exhausts and worsens our situation.
- All crises end negatively.
We may or may not be able to prevent it.
But we absolutely control how we handle crises.
Turning them into adversity or opportunity is in our hand.
A car accident left 11-years old Avani Lekhara paralysed from the waist down. She didn’t lose hope and with help of family members got trained in air rifles shooting.
Recently, Avani became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals at Paralympics successively in 2020 as well as 2024.
(https://olympics.com/en/news/paris-2024-paralympics-shooting-avani-lekhara-india-gold-medal)- Crisis always have an end date.
Crisis has an end date only if we decide its end date!
- Crisis times meaning you have to be too much demanding of yourself.
Don't be too demanding; conserve energy for crises.
Stay calm to find better solutions.
- My third favorite: It happened because I am a weak person.
If you believe you're weak, then you are.
If your believe you're not, then you're not.
Simple!
- My second favorite: If my efforts don’t pull me out of crisis, means I am useless.
- My favorite: executive crisis blocks your overall growth permanently.
Decide: Do you want crises to control your life OR do you prefer taking charge of your life amidst crises situations?
The best part is: whatever you choose, you will be right.