Anxiety happens when something unexpected occurs and we focus entirely on the problem instead of how we choose to respond to it.

When an unexpected challenge hits, such as a market shift or a new competitor setting up shop down the road, our brains want to jump right to the worst case scenario.

In a previous Cohesion Corner™ with Dr. Troy newsletter titled "Stop Reacting: Start Leading the Calendar", I explained how waiting for external pressure to dictate timing always increases the cost of our choices. Acting out of panic forces us into rushed, defensive decisions. Cohesive leadership decisions cut through external noise and focus directly on internal execution.

Stopping Automatic Negative Thoughts Before They Spread

When those high-stakes moments arrive, leaders sometimes have Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs). Have you ever noticed how fast a single negative thought can spiral into a narrative of defeat? ANTs happen to everyone, especially driven, high-achieving leaders.

To maintain a healthy workplace climate, recognize these thoughts as brief emotional passes rather than facts. When you pause, reset your mindset, and squash those ANTs before they take root, you prevent panic from trickling down through your team.

This idea aligns closely with something Bessel van der Kolk, MD highlighted in The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. The amygdala, aka our internal alarm system, triggers rapid physiological panic before our rational brain catches up. If we don't attach a catastrophic story to that initial surge, the physical wave of anxiety actually passes quite quickly. By using our prefrontal cortex to observe the feeling without getting swept away by it, we regulate our own nervous system and because emotions are contagious in workplace cultures, a grounded leader stops fear from dysregulating the entire group.

The C.O.P.E. Framework for Leading Through Crisis

When an unexpected UH-OH moment hits your organization, remember these four steps to guide your team from panic to purpose:

• C – Control What You Can: Shift your energy away from external noise or competitor actions and direct it entirely toward your internal standards and operations.
• O – Observe the Impulse: Pause before reacting. Acknowledge the initial wave of anxiety as a physiological alarm without turning it into a narrative of defeat.
• P – Practice Vulnerable Direction: Be transparent with your team about the challenge while providing a clear, grounded path forward so they feel informed, valued, and safe.
• E – Engage Your Team: Invite your employees into the solution-building process, giving them true ownership and turning adversity into a catalyst for deeper cohesion.

Why Vulnerability and Shared Adversity Build Authentic Culture

For a long time, traditional management books taught us that leaders must always project unshakeable perfection. As I’ve shared in past articles on building authentic workplace relationships, nothing builds walls faster than faked perfection. Cohesion forms when a leader has the courage to show up vulnerably and say, "This is a tough situation, and I don't have every answer yet, but here is where we are going together."

After all, effortless quarters rarely build an unstoppable organizational culture. While we often try to protect our organizations, shared adversity when navigated with trust, clear communication, and mutual respect provides the raw material that forms deep trust, resilience, and lasting team pride.

Leading through these moments requires bringing your core personal values into your daily operations. Concepts like courtesy, perseverance, and active presence serve as actionable business strategies rather than personal traits. When you lead with presence and listen deeply to your people, you create an environment where trust flourishes and high performance naturally follows.

On yesterday's episode of the UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders podcast, Ben-Jamin Toy, HSG and guest host Trevor Crunelle spoke with special guest Chris Natzke to examine these lessons. Chris shares a transparent look at how he faced a sudden business threat, squashed the inner panic, and rallied his entire team around internal excellence, turning a potential crisis into a 33% increase in annual growth.

If you are currently navigating a tough challenge, facing unexpected competition, or working to build a more resilient team, this conversation is full of practical wisdom you can apply right away.

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