Leadership in the Storm

Storms! They come to all of us in life in various shapes and sizes.  No one is exempt from storms and struggles in life or leadership. The question is: Are you prepared, and will you stand after the storm? Florida just endured two major hurricanes with subsequent flooding and tornados within two weeks…these were major storms! I live in the Tampa Bay region but not along the coast, so we decided to hunker down and prepare for the storm. As I was preparing and later serving in relief efforts, I was reminded of the following everyday leadership lessons for our families and communities:

1. Genuine Leadership shows up in the Crisis - Storms test our priorities, character, faith, and endurance.  Anyone can pretend to lead when all is well, but when storms arise, leaders should rise. Those who prepare can lead others through the storm.
   

2. Faith requires Action – I was so thankful for all the prayers and support during the storm, but I could not just depend on everyone else to pray.  I also leaned into my faith while preparing for the storm.  We all have a responsibility to do our part by putting faith into action and aligning words with our deeds.  It is not cliché to say, “prayer changes things.”  It may not change the situation, but it changes my perspective about my situation.
   

3. Communication is crucial – As the storm approached and preparations were completed, we called a family meeting to talk about the possibilities, preparations, and precautions.  We also considered our neighbors because it’s not just about me and my family, it’s about the community too.  So, I reached out to others to ensure they also had a plan.
   

4. Unity is required – My family stayed together in our home during the storm.  No one went out of the house or separated themselves from the family.  In a crisis, real leadership cares about people.  Their presence is felt, and they galvanize those they lead to overcome and recover from the storm.  Unity does not mean uniformity or agreement on everything.  Unity is the spirit of working towards a shared vision, despite differences, because divisiveness and isolation weakens all of us.
   

5. Conservation is key – We should equip ourselves to live on less during lean times, make cutbacks and adjustments so we are able to get through storms. We may need to conserve our finances, time, or energy to keep fuel in the tank which is vital to survival.   Constantly living in a mindset of greed, self-gratification, and privilege can dull the senses to how easily they can be lost when storms arise.
   

6. Know the Priorities – Sometimes we live as if we are entitled to only good things but bad things happen, even to people who do not deserve it.  Life is not always fair.  It rains on the just and the unjust during storms.  The threat of a natural storm has a way of focusing priorities on the most important things. Certainly, we could not take everything in our home with us if we evacuated, so we must establish priorities in the interest of the greatest good. What is indispensable to our survival as a family, community, and nation?
   

7. Walk the Talk – My son had a test recently that made him anxious for weeks.  During this time, I talked to him about his faith and overcoming worry.  One of my favorite verses I meditate on during storms is Philippians 4:4-7 which encourages me to pray and give thanks instead of allowing anxiety to overcome me.  Now, in the face of hurricanes coming our way, I had to walk my talk.  I actively resisted getting “worried” or filling my home with anxious thoughts.  Instead, I prayed for us and others in the surrounding area to be protected during the storm.  I focused on God’s faithfulness in the past every time worry tried to creep in.  Faith is not blind or foolish, it trusts in the wisdom of God when it is easier to doubt Him during the storm.
   

8. Remember to be Grateful – No one volunteers to go through storms in life, they just happen.  Surely, Florida did not want two hurricanes back-to-back, but they came anyway bringing loss and destruction.  During these times, as contrary as it may seem, leaning into gratitude guards our emotional and mental health by shifting our perspective from constant worry and negativity to taking notice of what is still good amid the storm.  
   

Leadership restores calm in crisis, stabilizes emotions and sets the climate during difficult times.  It can be hard to trust leadership during the divisive storms we are facing in America, but Americans have grit and a history of rising up to overcome.  When storms are at their worst…we pull together.   Somehow having our proverbial backs against the wall, reminds us of our allegiance to be “one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” We fight together against the storm, not fighting each other.  This season of natural disasters, political tension, social mayhem or any other storms should not shift us from our foundational belief to be the United States of America.  Let us rise again to the occasion and be unified in our efforts to care for one another and lead through our actions.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 22:36-39 ESV