There is a commercial where a woman is sharing how, when she flies, and turbulence hits, she looks at the flight attendants. She explains that if the flight attendants don’t look nervous she believes there is nothing to worry about. The flight attendants provide her confidence.
Being a person who had to navigate a fear of flying I completely get what she is saying. Her point goes well beyond the inside of an aircraft. It can be expanded into the turbulence organizations encounter.
Turbulence happens. When a crisis hits an organization it is a form of turbulence. When a church encounters difficulties financially, ministry fatigue, conflict with others in the church this is a form of turbulence.
When this happens who do people look at? Who is the flight attendant the folks focus on to give a sense of calm and confidence in the midst of turbulent times? It’s the leader. They are looking at you.
You may not prefer them to look at you. You may not have any more confidence than they do. But you need to provide a sense of confidence. Your confidence will provide them calm, when everything inside of them is screaming calamity.
When people look at you in a time of turbulence what do they see? Do they see you under control? Do they see unnecessary panic? Do they see calm? Your attitude and demeanor will determine the same in those you lead.
This doesn’t mean you aren’t concerned. It simply means that you understand the turbulence is not what it seems to others.
My wife Joni likes to say, “Everything works out.” She wholeheartedly believes this and it definitely allows her to respond in a positive manner. This ought to be your demeanor as a leader. Communicate, no matter what the turbulence, everything will work out.
On another front, who do you look at? Being a person of faith I look to God. I look to the Bible with its wisdom. I determine to trust what the Bible says. I choose to take it as it is meant. It is a refuge in storms. It is peace in disruptive times. It is calm in chaos. It is positive perspective in negative circumstances. It is steadiness in uneven times.
All of us need a confidence booster. We need something, or someone, to look at in turbulent times. Look to that which is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Look to God. Find him in his word. The turbulence may remain, but you will not remain the same in the turbulence.