Two months after the assassination attempt left him requiring emergency surgery, President Ronald Reagan was giving a speech in Berlin. Watch his reaction to the balloon popping. This is a class act.As a business leader, you will often be the target of bad news. Your team will watch how you react. Do you reflect, knee-jerk, exude confidence, panic, blame others, or seek counsel?
In 1989, I had the privilege of joining President Ronald Reagan for a small private dinner at McCormack Place, Chicago, where he was to perform the keynote speech for the National Restaurant Association Annual Exhibition. He was more than I had ever hoped he would be. Polite, humble, clear and very funny. He invited questions from his eight dinner guests. One guest asked him what the most important part of a President's job is. He drew a large smile on his face and we all laughed. He then told us that for eight years while he was President, he was filmed for 67% of his time. So it is very important when stepping out of a helicopter, walking into a room or being quietly given some bad news that you maintain a confident smile because - "The world is watching."
You may remember President George Bush was on camera when he an aid whispered in his ear about the World Trade Centre terrorist attack. He just smiled and kept on reading the children the book.
President Reagan reminded us that in business, our staff and customers are watching all the time. No matter how tough a meeting or how difficult the news, its responsibility to smile confidently and create assurance.How do you ensure you demonstrate leadership when the going gets tough?
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