What do you do if your leadership skills are tested in a high-risk situation?

A high-risk situation is relative to the scope handled by a risk management professional. At the senior level, failure to manage High-risk scenarios can impact the organization as a whole, hence to manage the High-risk scenario; the approach should be to take the situation with confidence as any other scenario and apply the principles similar to any other situation to keep the process fact-based and analytical. The results will follow how methodical and holistic you were during various decision-making to manage the High risk.

I would jump to accept this high risk situation where my leadership skills will be tested. I consider high risk situation as a potential for a higher reward because, I think I can handle such situation with appropriate risk management plan. Even though one cannot precisely estimate all the potential risks and failure scenarios but if done properly, one can identify the potential risks causing the situation to become high risk. Plan to handle the risks, if needed seek help and Win...

To stay calm, reassess your inner and outer strengths. Both will be used now, and you'll need to use both to get through the scenario. Examples of inner strength: -Patience -Self-awareness -Confidence -Compassion -Emotional regulation Outer Strengths -Skills -Talents -Social and work connections -Flexibility -Optimism -Relationship Building -Accountability Now, make a list of all your strengths. After each strength, write down how it will help you in this high-risk scenario. When you show your brain you have the strengths, skills, and talents to fly through this, the inner critic and ego will be silenced through your calmness. Your fight, freeze, or flee alarm system will be disarmed.

When Leadership skills are put to test in high risk situations, it requires one to stay calm and focused. It is important to assess the situation with an unbiased view, communicate transparently and collaborate with an open & inclusive mindset. As the quote says - "Leadership is not about being in charge, it is about taking care of those in-charge".

Leadership skills are tested in every situation, and maintaining your composure in stressful, as well as calm, situations is a sign of emotional intelligence. Discorporate, if you will, and manage the situation pragmatically. Follow the process, engage the team, and address the root cause to mitigate the risk to an acceptable level.

Promote a culture of risk awareness and ownership throughout your organization. Empower employees at all levels to identify, assess, and escalate risks relevant to their roles and responsibilities.

Diante cenários de alto risco entender o contexto é fundamental. Busque uma análise do risco em 360 graus, considerando as responsabilidades, o papel do time, o envolvimento das partes interessadas. Analise se o risco é potencial ou real, desde quando o risco existe, qual a origem e as consequências. Não generalize o risco ou deixe subjetiva as análises. Por vezes poderá concluir que não há nada adicional a ser feito considerando o que já é feito. Continue navegando com respeito, profissionalismo, ética e trabalho em equipe e deixe a maré alta passar. Por outro lado, se couber ações de melhoria, sugiro por exemplo classificar níveis do desempenho em fraco, mediano, muito bom e extraordinário e trabalhar para a evolução dos pontos frágeis.

Now is the time to use your visionary leadership skills and start visualizing a winning strategy and solution. Breaking down the situation is imperative, but more so is seeing how you want the situation to look at the end. Seeing the end enables you to create steps, pathways, and roads to get there. While creating the blueprint, do not forget to add in detours; if you are detoured, how do you get back on the path or road? If a leader starts taking action without knowing precisely what they want to develop, what resolution, or what the outcome will be, they are winging it. Wingers are dingers and rarely win.

In high-risk scenarios, staying composed is crucial, but immediately after, I pivot to risk assessment. My approach breaks the situation into manageable segments to identify potential threats. With my background in risk management and certifications like CLSSMBB, GRCA, GRCP, and CTPRA, I evaluate each risk's likelihood and impact meticulously. This structured analysis allows me to prioritize effectively, ensuring resources are deployed where most needed to mitigate significant risks first. It's a strategic, informed method to navigate through challenges, essential for a Chief Risk Officer.

Evaluate the situation thoroughly. Identify potential threats, vulnerabilities, and opportunities for mitigating risks. Seek Diverse Input: Don't operate in an information silo. Consult team members with different expertise, gather data, and get a holistic view of the situation. Prioritize ruthlessly: Not all information is equally important. Identify the critical details that will inform your decision-making.

In high-risk scenarios, the essence of leadership and risk management converges on decisive, clear communication. Drawing on my expertise, I advocate for a leadership style that not only projects clarity and assurance but also embodies openness to diverse perspectives. This approach facilitates a collaborative risk assessment process, enabling the identification and mitigation of potential threats efficiently. It underscores the importance of adaptability and situational awareness, ensuring that the team navigates complexities with informed confidence, thereby reinforcing resilience and operational integrity under pressure.

Organizational success is positively linked to involving employees in decision-making processes to generate new, creative solutions to organizational challenges. When employees participate in decision-making, they are more committed to their jobs and organizations, and their involvement also boosts organizational performance and productivity. Leaders can also display humility and foster positive communication. Explain that you value their opinions. Asking for employee input can help you evaluate challenges from different perspectives. Soliciting their ideas makes employees feel respected and valued, which increases work motivation, teamwork, and performance.

Establish a clear communication protocol tailored to high-risk scenarios and crisis situations. Define roles, responsibilities, and escalation procedures to guide communication flow and decision-making processes during emergencies.

Lead with empathy and compassion. It is easy as a leader in a high impact risk scenario to be so focused on the situation that you do not stop to listen. Effective communication starts with empathetic listening.

Leaders must act ethically, with integrity and transparency. In high-risk situations, further strengthen the sense of belonging and responsibility. Establish constant communication and attitudes of trust, encouragement and inspiration. Manage emotions, time, priorities, energy, ideas and words. Considering the high-risk scenario, there will certainly be problems to solve and in the face of adversity, take on the challenges and make decisions. Go to the main point of the risk situation, understand your power of influence as a leader over the scenario, evaluate the alternatives for mitigation and move forward. If you are unsure of your decision, backtrack, recalculate your route, and move forward again.

Execute your plan with precision and agility. Action is the antidote to uncertainty, and bold moves can turn the tide in your favor. Empower Your Team: Trust your team members and delegate tasks based on their strengths. A high-risk situation isn't a one-person show. Foster Open Communication: Encourage open communication and feedback. Different perspectives can lead to better solutions.

Ensure you have a flexible risk plan. Imagine different scenarios and how you would adapt should the situation change. Be ready to improvise should things not working as expected. And keep a close eye on updates to avoid missing key information.

After the dust settles, conduct a thorough debrief. Analyze what went well, what could be improved, and extract valuable lessons for future endeavors. Expect the Unexpected: Things rarely go exactly according to plan. Be prepared to adjust your approach based on new information or unforeseen circumstances. Maintain a Results-Oriented Focus: The goal is to navigate the situation effectively. Stay flexible and adapt your course of action as needed to achieve a positive outcome.

To build resilience and keep everyone engaged, focus on both physical and emotional well-being. This includes creating a safe space for open communication and addressing any concerns the team may have. Recognise and reward great work and consider highlighting outstanding team efforts as well – it strengthens collaboration and builds a sense of shared success.

Embrace innovation and creativity in problem-solving. Sometimes unconventional approaches yield the best results. Additionally, prioritize the well-being and morale of your team, as they are your most valuable asset in challenging times. High-risk situations are an opportunity to demonstrate true leadership. By staying calm, making well-considered decisions, and fostering collaboration, you can guide your team through challenging times and emerge stronger on the other side. Remember, effective leadership isn't about the absence of risk; it's about your ability to navigate risk effectively.