When Crisis Calls... Ring the Bells!

I recently stumbled upon Leonard Cohen’s song “Anthem” and found myself struck by these lyrics:

“Ring the bells that still can ring | Forget your perfect offering | There is a crack, a crack in everything | That’s how the light gets in.”

Isn’t that a powerful image??

The “crack” suggests a small but potent opening for insight—an essential spark that can break through darkness or challenge. It made me think of leadership, particularly in tough times, and how leaders can be the ones who help create that tiny fracture through which light (hope, innovation, new possibilities) can shine in.

I’ve seen firsthand how uncertainty and pressure can weigh teams down. Deadlines loom, resources tighten, and everyone wants to do their best, but the atmosphere can feel heavy causing isolation and protectionism. In moments like these, the “perfect offering” can seem impossible to achieve, fueling frustration or a sense of failure. That’s when remembering “there is a crack in everything” can be liberating: it reminds us that small beginnings lead to big breakthroughs.

As leaders, we have a unique responsibility to guide our teams toward these “cracks” of possibility. Rather than conveying disappointment, increasing pressure, and getting in the way, we can:

• Acknowledge the Imperfection: Let your team know it’s okay when things aren’t spotless. Admitting that we’re all a work in progress encourages people to share ideas and insights—even if they’re not perfectly polished.
• Invite Curiosity: Create moments to ask questions like, “Where might there be a tiny glimmer of hope we can build on?” or “What if we shifted our perspective on this issue?” Sometimes it takes just one open-ended question to reveal the path forward.
• Highlight Small Victories: It’s easy to focus only on the big goals, but recognizing little wins and small steps forward can keep the door open for more light to shine in.
• Be the Steady Hand: Especially during turbulence, stability in leadership helps teams believe that despite cracks in the plan, or unexpected issues, there’s a larger vision guiding everyone.
• Cultivate Psychological Safety: Encourage people to speak up about what’s not working. Those admissions can become the seeds for improvement and breakthrough.

Much like the lyric says, “that’s how the light gets in”—those glimmers, those learnings, can become the catalysts for growth and creativity.?

I invite you to reflect:

• Which areas in your current project or team dynamic could benefit from revealing that ever so important crack which is so desperately needed?
• How can you, as a leader, create an environment that shines light into areas that seem dark or stuck?

Let’s remember that the cracks are what lead to transformation.

By ringing the bells that still can ring, accepting that no one has a “perfect offering,” and staying open to the cracks, we guide our teams toward a brighter, better future—one beam of light at a time.

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