(164a) Critical Leadership Moments

When situations at work turn from casual to critical, we instinctively react poorly. Our logic center shuts down and we resort to primitive thinking skills. A critical moment is defined by three components which set it apart: 1) high stakes are involved, 2) there are opposing opinions, and 3) strong emotion is present. If not all three of these elements are recognized, employees always silently “act out” their frustrations in negative ways. Sometimes unknowingly. As managers, when you are taught how to “talk through” high-stake, emotionally charged topics, the outcome is dramatically more successful on the performance of individuals, teams, and entire organizations.