I like when life is predictable.

I like to be in control. I like when I can plan ahead. I like when life is predictable. But that’s isn’t always in the cards (from my life or as a leader).

Leaving an all day meeting at a client 2 1/2 hours from home and discovering a screw in your tire is one of those times. My body‘s initial reaction to situations like these is anxiety. The anxiety comes before the fear or frustration, and before the logical part of my brain can kick in. Luckily, knowing that anxiety is my natural response is (often) enough for me to be able to manage it.

Did I spend the better part of those that 2-hour drive checking my dashboard to see if the low tire light had come on? Yes.

Did I spend way too many minutes thinking about where I would pull over and how I would manage to change my tire on the side of the interstate? Yes.

Did I come home and tell my husband about the screw in my tire before asking about his day, checking on the kids, or doing anything else a logical person would do when they’ve been gone for 13 hours? Also yes.

As leaders (as with life), we benefit from recognizing how we respond to situations beyond our control because once we know it, we can manage it. Will we be perfect? No. When we reflect back will we love everything we did? No. But when we are through the situation and can talk to our team (or in my case, family) about it, will they give us grace? Yes.

What’s your first response to an unplanned situation? I’d love to know!