When 12 young soccer players and their coach were trapped in a cave in Thailand for 18 days, the world witnessed an extraordinary rescue mission that exemplified resilience. The Thai authorities showed us all the value of leadership by setting clear and consistent priorities, asking for help and leveraging the right team needed for the job.
1. Take Risks
If you want to become a better leader, you must learn how to take risks. This is important because it can lead to greater success in your career and personal life. It also helps you gain confidence and trust.
To develop your risk-taking skills, try to stretch yourself and get outside of your comfort zone. This could mean trying a new hobby or learning something completely different from what you normally do.
You may even need to seek professional advice from a coach who can help you manage your own risk-taking and avoid making bad decisions. The right executive coach can guide you to a more confident and successful career.
When you’re taking a risk, calculate the potential benefits and costs to yourself, your team members and your organization. This will make it easier for you to decide whether a risk is worth the effort.
Another benefit of risk-taking is that it can give you a new perspective on things. This can be very beneficial in a career because it can open your eyes to the world around you and encourage you to think differently about problems.
Moreover, risk-taking can provide you with the motivation and inspiration to improve your skills as a leader. You’ll be able to see your own weaknesses and strengths more clearly, which will help you make more informed decisions about what steps to take next.
It is a good idea to be honest about your own limitations and strengths so that others can support you and help you achieve success. This will ensure that everyone is on the same page and you can work together to succeed. It will also help you build trust within your team so that they’ll feel safe taking risks in the future.
2. Be Flexible
In a world that is constantly changing, flexibility is an essential leadership skill. Flexible leaders are able to adapt their behaviors and plans to accommodate changes in the workplace, maximizing productivity. They also embrace change, are open to new ideas and enjoy working with a wide spectrum of people.
To become a flexible leader, it is important to find a mentor who can share their experiences and lessons learned through their own career. These people will often be able to help you determine which leadership style is most effective in your particular situation.
You can also look for opportunities to practice flexibility in your daily life, including adjusting your schedule or work habits. For example, if you have always worked late, try to set an earlier schedule when possible or find a different workspace.
This is important because you will likely be facing a new situation every day, and each one of them will require a different leadership approach to solve the problem. It is important to be able to evaluate your situation, decide which leadership approach will be more effective, and switch between them quickly and smoothly.
When you are working with others, it is also important to be flexible with their communication style and listen to what they have to say. This can be especially helpful in connecting with those who might not have the same style as you.
A leader who is flexible will be able to communicate effectively with each of their team members, regardless of their unique personality traits and work styles. This helps to build trust and a sense of camaraderie within the team. It also allows them to work more productively and efficiently with the needs of each person in mind.
3. Be Focused
When I was in Thailand recently, I observed several leadership lessons from the successful Thai cave rescue mission. The story shows that when leaders are faced with a crisis, it is crucial to be focused on what’s best for the team.
This means being able to assess your options and choose the best, but then pivoting to a solution that will work when conditions change. In the case of the Thai cave rescue, leaders knew that the odds of saving the boys were slim, but they pressed on.
The rescue was a success, not because of luck or science, but because of careful planning and effective communication. The leaders of the rescue team, including a former UK Navy Seal, John Volanthen, were able to adapt their plan of action as they encountered challenges.
A leader who has heart is able to protect employees from losing their “face.” They are hesitant to shame people and are careful to maintain a calm and respectful attitude. This approach helps employees feel safe to share their emotions and opinions, which in turn promotes more positive workplace relationships.
Moreover, leaders with heart are able to communicate effectively and convey a message that is both compelling and inspiring. This leads to more engagement, better results and higher performance in their teams.
The ability to focus on the task at hand is a critical skill in all areas of life, but especially in work. Fortunately, there are many apps that can help students build their focus skills. One app is Be Focused, which allows students to be mindful of screen time while counting down a timer for non-screen tasks. It also includes a graphing feature that allows students to see their productivity over a period of time.
4. Be Honest
Honesty is a key leadership skill that you should practice regularly. It will not only help you to build trust with your followers, it can also help you to inspire and motivate them.
If you have a strong reputation for honesty, you’re likely to attract the best employees because they will feel comfortable working with you. You’ll also be able to retain talent by creating an environment that values innovation and collaboration.
Being honest also helps you to be a better decision-maker. It allows you to see where your decisions may have been based on emotions or personal biases and gives you the information you need to make a more accurate decision the next time a situation similar to the one you faced arises again.
A leader with integrity will always be honest, even when it is uncomfortable or hurts another person’s feelings. It’s a hard quality to achieve, but it can be the difference between success and failure.
When you’re honest with your employees, it’s easier for them to share their thoughts and concerns with you. This will allow you to learn from them and make the changes necessary to improve your company’s performance.
In Thailand, leaders are expected to be honest and humble. This shows that they respect their employees and the wisdom they can offer.
Honesty is also a great way to keep your business running smoothly and avoid major problems down the line. It can help you to avoid misunderstandings and get the best out of your team, which will ultimately help your company succeed. You should be honest with your followers, as well as with yourself, so that you can lead them safely and successfully.
5. Be Prepared
The rescue mission in Thailand is an extraordinary example of how leadership can overcome obstacles. During the 19-day operation, Thai Navy SEALs and volunteer divers had to navigate dark, murky waters, tight spaces and sharp rock edges as they worked to save 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped inside the flooded cave system.
As a result, the team had to remain focused and adapt as the situation unfolded. They also needed to keep their eyes on the goal: rescuing the boys.
To achieve this, they had to be prepared for every twist and turn in the rescue process. They were determined to succeed and knew that nothing was impossible as long as they stayed committed.
One of the most important leadership lessons from this story is that you must be prepared to take risks and make risky decisions. In many cases, people believe that low-risk means low-rewards and should be avoided at all costs. However, the Thai team learned that in order to save the boys, they had to be willing to consciously take risks.
This is especially true when working with younger generations, who may be tempted to dismiss their elders as unqualified or untrustworthy. Taking the time to listen to their experience can provide valuable insights that you might not get elsewhere, and it’s worth the effort. It’s a powerful reminder that no matter where you are in life, those more experienced than you can be a resource for learning and leadership growth. Just make sure you treat them with respect! They can offer you a fresh perspective, and perhaps even help you find your next opportunity. That’s why it’s so important to build trust and a strong network of leaders.
