Although it’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day business operations, we’ve come to recognize over the years that it’s important to take a step back and continue our own learning and growth when it comes to leadership — not only for the benefit of TRICOM as a company, but also for us to share this knowledge with our clients and the staffing industry.

For this reason, the TRICOM management team virtually attended the Global Leadership Summit the first week in August. We were floored by the amazing presentations, but one stood out to the entire team: Craig Groeschel’s opening presentation entitled, “Leading Through the Dip.”

In this presentation, Craig talks about times when you hit a ceiling, when what you’ve always done in your business no longer works, and taking the risk to try something new – even if it means a temporary downturn in productivity or efficiency.

In his presentation, Craig guides attendees to “understand the power of unmaking promises, leading with confident uncertainty, obsessing with the why, and having the courage to do some things that may feel like a step backwards so that we can take several steps forward.” 

Craig began by outlining the 5 stages of an organization’s lifecycle: Birth, Growth, Maturity, Decline, and Death. Through it all, leadership is about influence, not about title or position. Right now, our world has changed significantly. While every major crisis creates a myriad of unexpected problems, they can also create new, unprecedented opportunities.

However, sometimes things need to get worse before they get better. This is what Craig calls “leading through the dip.”

Craig describes several different types of “dips.”

• Developmental Dip: things get worse before they get better
• Efficiency Dip: overhauling systems
• Attendance Dip: Trying to change the culture to reach more people

How do you lead through the dip? Craig describes four steps:

1. Change how you think about change

Craig explains that people don’t hate change, they hate the way we try to change them. Also, great leaders don’t cast blame; they take responsibility. You can make excuses or you can make progress – you can’t do both. Your desire to hold the fort may cause you to lose the war.

2. Have the courage to unmake promises

“We will never…. We will always….” If you are not careful, your boldest declarations could become your greatest limitations. When the old mindset is limiting your future, have the courage to unmake a promise. We have new threats — a new world — and the world continues to change. There are also new opportunities. Ask yourself, “Have I made any personal promises that may be limiting my leadership potential?” You cannot correct what you will not confront.

3. Obsess over the why

There are only two reasons why people change: desperation or inspiration. Desperation is when someone has to change. Inspiration is when someone wants to change. There are three reactions to change:

• Critics (They always have the most vocal criticism. Just because they’re the loudest doesn’t mean they’re the most important)
• Bystanders
• Advocates

As a leader, you need to give them the “why.” This disarms the critics (although not necessarily all of them), educates the bystanders, and empowers the advocates who will then help lead others. Always remember the “why” through the challenges and difficulties.

4. Lead with confident uncertainty

Be confident that you do not know what the future holds, while also being confident that you are surrounded by strength. You are the most vulnerable when you are the most confident. Feel the fear and lead anyway – step into the fear. The pathway to your greatest potential is straight through your fear.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What is no longer working and need to be changed?
• What is one promise you need to un-make?
• What is one risk you need to take even if you feel afraid?

Now more than ever, strong leadership is what will bring us through these unchartered waters. Knowing that we may need to take a step back before we can move forward, as well as how to proceed through the “dips” can make all the difference when it comes to being able to see the opportunities in any crises.

To learn more about the Global Leadership Summit or to review additional resources, visit globalleadership.org.

About Craig Groeshel:

Craig Groeschel is the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church, an innovative church meeting in multiple U.S. locations and globally online. Groeschel was named in the top 10 U.S. CEO’s for small and midsize companies by Glassdoor. Traveling the world as a champion of The Global Leadership Summit, Craig Groeschel advocates to grow leaders in every sector of society. He is the host of the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, the most listened to leadership podcast in the world. He is also A New York Times best-selling author.