Wellness 2.0: Rising to the Occasion

What It Covers

Psychologist Adam Galinski examines leadership during crises through three contrasting cases: Captain Francesco Schettino's catastrophic failures, Thai soccer coach Ek's cave rescue success, and pilot Tammy Jo Shultz's emergency landing, revealing learnable skills for rising to occasions.

Key Questions Answered

• •Power recall technique: Before high-stakes situations, spend five minutes recalling a specific time when you had control and power. This mental exercise measurably lowers physiological stress responses, increases confidence, and improves performance in job interviews and negotiations compared to recalling powerless moments.
• •Crisis communication framework: Leaders must avoid words like trapped or stuck during emergencies. Instead, provide specific shared goals, maintain visible calmness since emotional states amplify through leadership roles, and offer concrete timelines even when uncertain. Coach Ek's we're digging out strategy kept boys focused and cohesive for ten days.
• •Terry cloth versus wire mesh leadership: Effective crisis leaders combine competence with warmth, checking on individuals personally and showing genuine care. Tammy Jo Shultz walked the cabin row-by-row after landing, making eye contact with each passenger, which people remembered more than her technical flying skills that saved their lives.
• •Structure under chaos: Establish rigid daily routines during crises, even when circumstances make time meaningless. Coach Ek set six AM alarms in the dark cave, organized digging shifts, and led meditation sessions. NASA uses identical scheduling principles for astronauts, as structure prevents mental and interpersonal breakdown during prolonged stress.