Senn Delaney President and CEO Jim Hart shares surprising results of a Thriving Global Leadership Study of thousands of leaders across 60 industries and 50 countries. The survey discovered a dramatic difference between those who are facing these times of crisis with what is defined as a high-thriving state of mind and those with a lower-thriving state of mind. The survey data shows that high-thriving leaders have the exact characteristics needed for success in the times we are in. The article also gives CEOs and top leaders an opportunity to quickly evaluate the thriving state of mind of their leaders and managers to evaluate their organization's ability to survive and thrive during the economic crisis and beyond.
why state of mind
matters in times
of great challenge
Senn Delaney's new Thriving Global LeadershipSurveyT reveals that people who operate in athriving state of mind do far better during crisis.
President and CEO Jim Hart points to the safelanding of flight 1549 on the Hudson River as acompelling example of the power of the thrivingstate of mind. It serves as an important lessonfor business leaders seeking to survive andthrive amid global economic chaos.When US Airways flight 1549 cally flawless. The evacuation and rescue strate the three principles of a thrivingof all passengers was calm and orderly. state of mind. "It was obvious to meCaptain Chesley Sullenberger from the moment that we lost the thrustCapt. Sullenberger dismissed claims that that this was a critical situation. I knew Ipulled off the 'Miracle on the he was a hero. He credited his 40 years of had to solve this problem." (This illus-Hudson' safe landing in the experience and training as well as the trates the learning mindset.) "My focuscrew's. Training and experience were was so intensely on the landing, I thoughtHudson River, the world called clearly critical factors, however, a thriving of nothing else. (This demonstrates pur-him a hero. At Senn Delaney, state of mind also played a key role in pose and direction.) I was sure I could dotheir ability to perform at the top of their it."(This shows vitality and confidence.)we call him a high thriver. This game in a dire situation. Consider what might have happened if theamazing story of calm under The veteran pilot and crew were intuitive- captain was fearful or indecisive or if hefire and creatively overcoming ly operating at the higher levels of what spent precious time blaming the birds, thewe have defined as a thriving state of weather, the aircraft. What might haveincredible challenges offers a mind based on findings of a 2007 collab- happened if the crew did not get quicklycompelling lesson for business orative study with three prominent U.S. on the same page, take accountability andbusiness schools. People who are consid- act with purpose and direction to haveleaders seeking to survive and ered to operate in high-thriving states of people brace for impact and remain calm.mind have learned to or are able to They did not think of themselves in thosethrive amid global economic innately balance three critical psychologi- moments, they acted in the best interest ofchaos: A thriving state of cal states of mind: everyone on board, creating a thrivingshadow of leadership for all aboard.mind can positively impact ?vitalityperformance by more than New Thriving Global Leadership?learning mindset SurveyT reveals that people whotwo to one. ?purpose and direction operate in a high-thriving stateof mind do better during crisisCapt. Sullenberger had a supremeFrom the moment he took the controls amount of confidence that he could suc-and announced, "my airplane," Capt. The high-thriving state of mind of thecessfully land the airplane on the HudsonSullenberger was calm, confident and flight 1549 crew affirms the findings ofRiver. He had a clear sense of directiontotally focused. When he instructed the our new Thriving Global Leadershipand purpose: land safely. He was notflight crew to "brace for impact," they SurveyT. In December 2008, we sur-afraid: he maintained awareness and ainstantly became an aligned team, veyed thousands of leaders and managerssense of confidence that belied his cir-focused on the singular mission of saving from more than 60 global companies,cumstances. He was totally focused, aspassengers' lives, despite the risks to representing a wide range of industries towere the flight attendants. His commentsthemselves. The results: The emergency understand how the economic crisis isto CBS news anchor Katie Couric demon-landing in the Hudson River was techni- impacting our clients.
Veteran pilot Captain Chesley Sullenberger and the flight 1549crew were intuitively operating at the higher levels of what wehave defined as a thriving state of mind based on findings of a2007 collaborative study with three major U.S. business schools.People who are considered to operate in high thriving states ofmind have learned to or are able to innately balance three criti-cal psychological states of mind: vitality, learning mindset andpurpose and direction.
why state of mind matters in times of great challenge [2]"If you can be stable, secure and optimistic in times like this... [download for more]
