We all know someone who recently lost a job or is struggling with his or her business. The economy is tough today. The only thing we can control is how we react to what’s going on. As my friend and wingman John Harrington of OTR Consultants says, when adversity strikes, “we either fear or we lead.”
If you want to test the true character of a person, see how they respond to adversity. Watch how they handle the pressure of a lost sale, an angry client, or a difficult boss. What do they say? How do they act? What is their emotional state? Do they freeze up and get angry, or do they buckle down and increase their focus and commitment?
If you want to test the character of a businessperson, see how they act when sales are down, when they’re having a bad month, or when the competition is winning their business.
So many companies have a mission of flawless execution for their employees. They wear it like a badge of honor and preach it at their annual sales meetings and company newsletters. They think that pushing for perfection really works. I disagree.
Being a wingman in life means when someone calls out
“Mayday!” to you, you’re there on time, on target, and ready to take action. It
means you are the type of person others can come to for help.
Lack of communication can take the most carefully laid plans and destroy them with the corrosion of doubt. It can transform the most confident person into a second-guesser and that’s bad for everyone on your team.
You fly missions every day, at work and at home. They generally aren’t as intense as combat, but the pressures and the stakes are real nonetheless. The key, not just to surviving but to winning these missions, lies with your wingmen - your trusted partners and collaborators.
Are you getting out there with your troops - your wingmen - and walking the flight line? Do you know their issues, gripes, and personal concerns? Do you know what gets in the way of their giving their best?