Grace under pressure.
It is a sure sign of a great leader. Now before we go off and start calling someone a great leader, I guess we have to qualify this statement.

Who do people look to when times are the darkest? Who do people turn to when they are out of options? Who do people need the most when all hope seems to be lost? Their Leaders; people tend to turn to leadership for guidance and direction. Now some people will go their own way, and some leaders will not step up when needed the most; but when everyone is losing it during a crisis, great leaders do great things.

I like walking through airports with only socks on, and I can sit on the floor at a terminal, and I like taking deep breaths when I am running late to check in. Does that make me a great leader? No, it means I am practicing staying calm in unusual circumstances. I can be the first to lose it when things are not going as planned. What good does getting angry do? Anger separates, and raises the stress level and can block clarity of thought. An angry leader does not often a good leader make. So I have to practice keeping my cool when other people are losing it.

So what about being worried, or frustrated? Does that make things better when times are tough? No, they are not any more of a solution than getting angry; they are just a different way of dealing with the chaos. The best way to get through this crazy, rushed and stressed out life we lead is staying calm, and staying focused. Great leaders have a vision, have a plan, and have a back up plan when things go wrong. Something can almost always go wrong, remember Murphy’s Law?

Sometimes people can be aloof and detached. It does not mean they are leaders, it means they could care less what happens. Leaders care what happens and take steps to ensure the success of a team or project. There is a difference between detachment and grace under pressure. Don’t be fooled either way.

Now, fake leaders manufacture a crisis so they can look good in the middle of it. Fake leaders tell everyone else to do one thing while they do something different. Real leadership, great leadership can be both inspirational in what they say, and in what they do. Real Leadership, Great Leadership means building up the people around you to be able to help out, step up and take the lead if needed. Real Leadership, Great Leadership means running fire drills, and doing controlled tests and learning to manage chaos, before chaos turns to crisis.

The better prepared you are, the better you will deal in a crisis. The better prepared those around you are, the better they will deal with a crisis. Even if the whole world seems to be falling part around you, a great leader knows what they can control and what they can’t control and just stays focused on the big picture, the bottom line and the target.
How many clichés can I throw at you? Hundreds, but the point is to get you to see what to look for in times of trouble. Great Leaders plan, prepare and practice before times get tight. Great leaders can stay calm and stay focused.

Grace under pressure. It is not the only quality of a great leader, but it is one of the signs of great leadership. Step back and watch closely. Sooner or later you will see what I am talking about.