How Do I Get Out of Constant Crisis Mode?

Coaching Real Leaders

Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

Executive, Business/careers, Leadership, Careers, Business/management, Sessions, Hbr, Coaching, Review, Society & Culture, C-suite, Leaders, Harvard, Business, Management

4.8 • 660 Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

She’s been in leadership roles for over a decade, but is feeling challenged at her latest company. She wants to focus on developing a long-term strategy but finds herself getting bogged down by the constant crises and day-to-day operational issues. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through what’s keeping her from being more strategic.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Muriel Wilkins and this is Coaching Real Leaders, part of the HBR Podcast Network.
0:13.3	I'm a longtime executive coach who works with highly successful leaders who've hit a bump in the road.
0:19.5	My job is to help them get over that bump by
0:21.7	clarifying their goals and figuring out a way to reach them so that hopefully they can lead with a
0:26.3	little more ease. I typically work with clients over the course of several months, but on this show,
0:31.9	we have a one-time coaching meeting focusing on a specific leadership challenge they're facing.
0:46.6	Today's guest is someone will call Margaret to protect her confidentiality.
0:51.8	She's an executive who's held leadership positions for over a decade at a few different companies.
0:53.2	It is highly rewarding.
0:56.1	It's high visibility.
0:57.5	It's high impact.
0:58.5	It's high stress.
0:59.4	And it requires always on.
1:01.1	But I really love what I do, even when I sometimes don't love the job.
1:05.9	I really love the people problem-solving aspect.
1:09.9	How do I coach people?
1:11.6	How do I upskill them?
1:13.6	How do I help form context?
1:16.6	So I'm aware that some of my superpowers in this role are,
1:21.6	I'm very good at giving context.
1:23.6	I'm very good at connecting dots for people.
1:26.6	And I'm a nerd at heart and I love the hands-on,
	...

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