Mountains Don't Rise Without Earthquakes

No earthquakes. No Mountains. The most significant instances of growth and transformation have come out of moments of turmoil. It's during the most difficult times that the real leader emerges. Steps up. Leans in. Crisis and failure is a golden opportunity to strip away what no longer serves you, and paves the way for new beginnings.?

Here are a few examples:

1. Penicillin: In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin by accident when he failed to clean up his lab properly. A mold grew on one of his petri dishes and killed off the bacteria he was studying. Though it was a mistake, this discovery led to the development of the first antibiotic, which has saved countless lives.

2. The iPhone: Apple was in crisis in the early 2000s. They were losing market share to competitors like Blackberry and their stock price had plummeted. In 2007, they launched the iPhone, which revolutionized the smartphone industry. The touchscreen interface and app store were breakthrough innovations that changed the game and put Apple back on the map.

3. Disney's Snow White: In 1937, Walt Disney was on the brink of bankruptcy. He had overspent on his first few films and was struggling to stay afloat. He decided to take a risk and produce his first feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It was a gamble that paid off - the film was a massive hit and became the highest-grossing movie of its time. It saved Disney's studio from imminent failure.

4. Coca-Cola: In the 1980s, Coca-Cola was losing market share to Pepsi. In an attempt to turn things around, they launched "New Coke" - a reformulation of their classic recipe. It was a disaster. Consumers revolted and demanded the original formula be brought back. Coca-Cola listened and re-released their classic formula, which became known as "Coca-Cola classic." The crisis forced Coca-Cola to re-examine their product and marketing strategy, which led to renewed success.

5. SpaceX: In 2008, SpaceX faced a major setback when their Falcon 1 rocket failed to reach orbit twice in a row. This was a major blow to the company, but they persisted. They spent the next few years refining their technology and finally became the first privately-funded company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station in 2012.

Of course failure sucks. No one likes to lose, but .... this is often when the real leader appears. Out of the ashes and dust the leader emerges and discovers a way out out of crisis

Embrace change and uncertainty. Focus on finding a new way forward. Harness the power of perseverance, adaptability, teamplay and creativity

Encourage your team to do the same. Listen to their concerns and fears, and acknowledge their feelings. Validate their emotions, but also provide a sense of hope and reassurance that better days are ahead. Think outside the box.

Lean into your team's strengths and tap into the collective intelligence of the team. Trust that they can handle adversity, and empower them to move forward. Encourage open communication, innovation, and creative problem-solving. Reassess goals and strategies, and pivot when necessary to keep everyone on track.

Through these moments of crisis and challenge, you have the opportunity to demonstrate your true value to their team and organization. This is a moment when you can inspire trust and confidence by maintaining a steady hand, fostering a sense of direction, and leading by example. Be transparent, authentic, and accountable, and show your team that you're all in this together.

Know that there is always a way forward, even when it may not seem like it.

Encourage your team to see crisis as an opportunity to shed the old and welcome the new.

Through these difficult moments, you together have the opportunity to cultivate growth and transformation, paving the way for new beginnings and endless possibilities....

Learn more about leadership www.oxfordleadership.com

Brian Bacon is Founder and Exec Chairman of the Oxford Leadership Group, a UK based international leadership consultancy with 900,000 alumni, 200 coaches & consultants throughout Europe, USA, Asia and Latin America