Navigating the global stage, community dynamics, and family drama can often feel like a theatrical production. and as leaders, it’s our responsibility to step into the role of the adult in the room —the hero. Achieving this requires cultivating the right mindset.
Reflecting on my own mindset journey within the walls of a bustling medical center in Chicago, I remember a day when Joan, an emergency room nurse team lead, brightened my mood. Amid a gloomy November day, her arrival, clad in blue scrubs with a calm demeanor and a kind smile, was a welcomed surprise. Handing me a Coke, Joan, not a CEO but a team lead, exemplified the hero leader mindset.
I confided in Joan about my concerns regarding our rapid response plan for handling tragic accidents with multiple injuries. Sensing my anxiety, her simple act of kindness, that Coke, worked wonders in calming me down. Together, we collaborated, strategized, and resolved the pressing issues. In her subtle way, Joan embodied the essence of hero leadership—recognizing personal needs, treating individuals as human beings, and enabling superior performance. Being a hero leader demands the right mindset.
Joan’s mindset extended beyond our collaboration. Amidst surreal work situations, she maintained composure and found dark humor in the chaos. Anticipating the unexpected, she and her team were prepared for Saturday nights filled with gunshots, stabbings, and unimaginable traumas. They had specific action plans, preventing confusion and ensuring efficient responses.
Joan mindset can be applied to all businesses:
- Be clear about why we are a team:
Joan and the ER staff were clear about what they must do (treat the emergency), and what they needed to refer on to others (Intensive care, inpatient care). As a team, they understood the scope of their role and how it integrated with others in the hospital. They understood that they were a team within a larger team. Just as Joan and her ER staff understood their role within the larger hospital team, clarity on why your team exists and how it integrates with the organization as a whole is crucial.
- Put the customer first and do what is best:
Despite global conflicts and personal dramas, Joan’s team prioritized individual patient needs. Likewise, focusing on the critical requirements of your customers, even amid external challenges, is paramount.
- Embrace Proactivity:
Adaptability is key. Anticipate and plan for both expected and unexpected challenges. And don’t underestimate the power of kindness, like Joan’s thoughtful gesture with the Coke, in alleviating anxiety and fostering a positive working environment.
So, how can you adjust your mindset to embody the hero leader your company or team needs?
Clarify purpose, prioritize customer needs, and be proactive—adapting with kindness along the way. Joan’s approach is a blueprint for hero leadership in any setting.
Chuck Scharenberg is the Founder of More Profit More Freedom, a consultancy that supports newer CEOs of technology companies and their top team scale their business.