The 'Absolutely Essential' Traits Every Leader Needs in a Crisis (Trust Me) - Part 1

Subtitle: Boiling Lava with Angel Voice: How Mental Wellness Keeps Leaders Smiling Through the Chaos

Leadership in childcare can feel like an adventure, with unexpected twists and turns at every corner. But, as much as we’d like to imagine it as smooth sailing, the reality is often a bit more intense—especially when something goes wrong. Trust me, mental wellness is your best friend when your blood pressure is ready to hit the roof.

It was Chinese New Year’s Eve. The children were decked out in their traditional costumes, the teachers were excited, and I was feeling quite good about the day. My blood pressure? A healthy 120. Everything seemed perfect—until it wasn’t.

Then came the scream. A scream so loud, so sudden, it felt like a full alarm going off inside me. Immediately, my heart raced, and my blood pressure shot up to 150 as Teacher Lee came barreling down the hallway toward me. Her face was pale, and her voice trembled as she called, “Mrs. Tham! Something’s happened, you need to come now!”

Cue my internal panic. My emotions bubbled up like hot lava, but as a leader, I knew I couldn’t show it. Leadership, especially in a crisis, demands calm exteriors—so I plastered on a serene smile and followed Teacher Lee to the classroom. My blood pressure was now at 160.

And there she was—little Mina, standing in the middle of the classroom, crying with blood trickling down her forehead. Inside, my mind was racing. Is she seriously hurt? Will her parents be furious? But outwardly, I remained composed.

I gently knelt down beside Mina, my heart racing, and spoke in the calmest voice possible: “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. We’ll take care of you.” Meanwhile, my blood pressure had hit 170, and I was holding it together by sheer will.

Mental wellness in that moment wasn’t just about keeping myself calm—it was about keeping everyone else grounded too. Teacher Lee looked ready to collapse from the stress, but I reassured her, “Let’s get the first-aid kit and prepare to take Mina to the hospital. It’s under control.”

Inside, I was anything but under control. My blood pressure was up and down like a rollercoaster, but leadership in a crisis means projecting calm even when your insides feel like a boiling pot of stress.

We got Mina to the hospital, and my blood pressure finally started to dip back down to 140. She was okay—just a couple of stitches. But the day wasn’t over yet. I still had to call her parents, file reports, and prepare for what might come next.

The first lesson of crisis leadership? Your mind is your biggest asset. Keep your blood pressure from reaching crisis levels by mastering the art of mental wellness, no matter how chaotic the situation.

Stay tuned for Part 2: "Mount Everest Has Nothing on Childcare Leadership" where I take you through hospital visits, more surprises, and the true test of emotional resilience.