What do we mean by setbacks and adversity?
___A setback is a single event or specific series of events that impedes your forward progress as an organization
___Adversity, rather than a distinct occurrence, is more likely to be an ongoing unfavorable condition
___Setbacks and adversity each make different demands on a leader
Why is it important to focus on overcoming setbacks and adversity?
___To keep the organization moving forward
___To avoid discouragement and despair
___To keep staff/volunteer morale high
___To maintain standing in the community
___To add to your and the organization’s store of knowledge
___To enhance your development as a person and as a leader
___To maintain the organization’s faith in its leadership
___To keep the focus on your mission, and continue to serve or work for those at whom the effort is aimed
When should you work to overcome setbacks and adversity?
___In the case of a setback, action should usually be immediate, and geared specifically to reversing the situation, whatever it is
___In adversity, you have to move forward steadily, both to get the organization through difficulties and in order to overcome them
How do you, as a leader, overcome setbacks and adversity?
___Stay calm
___Communicate
___Take action
___Determine what went wrong, and use your analysis to fix the problem, if it’s within your control, or to get around or cope with it, if it’s not
___Develop a strategic plan for coping with the situation
___Involve everyone in the organization in planning your coping strategy
___Ask for help from outside the organization if you need it . . . and sometimes even if you don’t
___Emphasize moving the organization forward
___Accentuate the positive
___As a leader, share the hardships of the situation with the rest of the organization
___Use the situation to build solidarity within the organization
___Make sure everyone in the organization, including you, gets the emotional and other support he needs
___Don’t be too serious
___Point out the learning that came out of the situation
___Always keep the big picture in mind
___Don’t let up