The Perfect Storm
The perfect gift, perfect job, or perfect house. All good things that are pleasing and enjoyable. Then there are things like Aunt Gina’s Broccoli Casserole or a speeding ticket on your way to work, while unpleasant, bring minimal damage and could have been avoided. And sometimes there are things that can cause major damage like hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, and ice storms. We call these drastic weather events. When an extremely dire situation develops it is usually due to several adverse conditions that worsen when combined. This is often labeled “The Perfect Storm.”
The Perfect Storm is a term that is used for more than weather events. They can happen anywhere and at any time. The first American Civil War has been called one by historians. Meteorologists offer the 1991 North Atlantic storm as a modern example. Financial experts refer to the 2008 housing market/bank failures and the 2021 supply chain shortages. All “Perfect Storms” that affected many people over a large area.
But let us leave the thirty-thousand-foot view and look at perfect storms that might target our workplaces. Not at the corporate level, but the shop floors and office spaces where our hands grasp the tools, and our fingers move on the keyboards. While we cannot stop natural storms, we can, however, stop storms that threaten us in this area. While everyone can prevent man-made forest fires, Smokey the Bear might say, “Only leadership can prevent the fires that would destroy our organizations.”
I have never written an article like this before. It is personal to me and many others as we are in the path of an approaching storm. This article is predictive in nature. I do not mean prophetic in that I have been given this by God, more like the sons of Issachar, with wisdom and discernment, I understand the times, and what will happen if conditions do not change. For some time now I have seen the patterns and motives before the problems. I am not alone, many others with enough sense that God gave a goose, are looking past the moments to see the trajectory of where this is going.
Meteorologists consider the factors of Moisture, Instability, Lift, and Wind Shear. Economists watch Inflation, Debt, Market Volatility, Geopolitical conflict, and other indicators to predict future prosperity. There is a timeless principle in Proverbs concerning Leadership on tracking the conditions that affect their organizations.
Proverbs 27:23 NLT
Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, By following this truth, management diligently gives attention to their team’s needs and well-being. It is easier to nurture and manage your greatest resource, your people, by practicing proximity. By close observation and listening, adverse conditions can be seen and stopped in the incipient stage.
Developing Adverse Conditions
An organization that is at a fork in the road. Rarely does one decision make or break, but when the decision is the result of the failure to fix a problem when it is small, it now has the potential to have devastating effects. The fork offers two paths, to the right the honorable path, to the left a path that leads to harm.
A mostly young, inexperienced and immature workforce. Like teenagers that can’t keep their feet out of the street, these guys can’t keep their work boots on the jobsite. More concerned with a 5G connection than the quality of their 5G welds. And protecting their status in the clique takes greater importance than seeking the best for the team. They have no fear of work as seen in their willingness to fight doing it.
Changing leadership. With the trajectory toward replacing a Rolex with a Timex, will anyone be surprised when the end is less quality. Seeking any position of leadership is going after something that is honorable, because of this you cannot put them that are dishonorable in it.
The Forecast
Organizations will often speak positive propaganda in the face of a negative forecast. Whether to ease employee concerns or simply putting their head in the sand, neither is good for the organization. You can deny the reality, turn a blind eye, or criticize those that shout the warning, but the storm is coming. It has been my observation that forecasts come from people based on their behavior, not what they say.
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
Maya Angelou
Forecasts give opportunity to prepare!
The Warnings
In June of 2005, a guest minister came to the church I was attending. His message was titled “Storm Warnings.” With him being a former U.S Navy officer, he had experience of storms at sea. It was easy for me to relate, because as a Marine embarked on several Navy ships, I had experienced major weather events while at sea. His message was prophetic, as in the years to come our nation would suffer from political, economic, and cultural storms and disasters. I was reminded of this minister’s message when a few days ago I came across a note I had put in my Bible.
“Storm warnings provide notice for us to escape possible harm.”
In most cases we are given warnings about their approach to our cities and towns. Sometimes they develop quickly, and the warning comes suddenly and leaves little time to react, as is the case with tornados. At other times, as with hurricanes, we can see development far off and are able to track its approach. In both cases a warning is issued, and those in its path need to seek shelter. Warnings are given so that you can escape possible harm. Warnings bring people to a decision. Depending on the severity of the forecast, your reaction will vary. Finding yourself in the direct path may dictate that you evacuate.
Landfall
If you did not evacuate, then it is time to seek cover. Protect yourself. Remember that it was the organization that placed you in this position. They have chosen the toxic; you need to seek cover and protect your integrity and mental well-being. I want to end with words that were spoken to me many years ago in a comparable situation by a wise older co-worker.
“Some will stay and fight; some will take flight. There will be injury and perjury, corruption and consternation. Despondency and disdain will subdue diligence and devotion in some. There will many paths for thee, but integrity is the only one for me.”