How Our Networks Carry Us Through Crisis

Peter Comrie Publisher WBN News – Okanagan and WBN News – Winnipeg
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Crisis is not a matter of if, but when. For leaders, it’s never a question of whether adversity will come, it’s how we’ll respond when it does. And in those moments, one truth becomes vividly clear: we are only as resilient as the relationships we’ve built.

When challenges hit, whether personal or professional, it is often our network that becomes the bridge between despair and recovery. Between fear and courage. Between collapse and clarity.

You Don’t Have to Lead Alone

One of the most dangerous beliefs in leadership is the illusion of self-sufficiency. That we must have the answers. That we must appear strong. That asking for help is a sign of weakness.

The reality is the opposite.

Leaders who endure and emerge stronger are those who have the courage to reach out, to mentors, friends, colleagues, peers. Not to offload responsibility, but to gather wisdom, share the load, and remember they are not alone.

Real Networks Show Up When It Counts

Anyone can show up when things are going well. But true relationships reveal their strength in moments of struggle.

  • The colleague who checks in after you’ve gone quiet.
  • The friend who calls just to listen.
  • The former client who sends a referral when your pipeline has dried up.
  • The mentor who reminds you who you are when you forget.

These moments aren’t strategic, they’re sacred. They are the quiet power of networks built on trust, generosity, and presence.

Connection Is a Buffer Against Burnout

In crisis, isolation magnifies fear. But connection restores perspective. It brings us back to shared humanity. It offers emotional grounding. It reminds us that strength isn’t the absence of struggle, it’s the willingness to face it with others.

Even a five-minute conversation with someone who understands can lift a fog that’s been clouding your judgment for days.

Be the Strength in Someone Else’s Storm

Resilient networks are not built only by receiving support, but by offering it. Especially in leadership, your ability to recognize when others are struggling, and to reach out with empathy, can be the turning point in their story.

Ask more than once. Listen more than you speak. Offer what you can, even if it’s just your presence.

When crisis strikes, people won’t remember your title. They’ll remember that you showed up.

Final Thought

We often think of resilience as an internal trait. But in truth, resilience is relational. It grows in the spaces between us. fueled by trust, nurtured by presence, and sustained by those who walk with us through the fire.

When you build strong relationships in calm waters, they become your lifelines in the storm.

My best to you,

~peter~

 

Let’s Keep Talking!

Peter Comrie
Co-Founder and Human Capital Specialist at Full Spectrum Leadership Inc.
Reach out to me at peter@fullspectrumleadership.com

Or connect with me here to book a call!

Reach me on Linkedin; https://www.linkedin.com/in/petercomrie/

We can also chat on Bluesky: @petercomrie.bsky.social       

Tags: leadership, personal networks, trust, connection, influence, relationships, executive coaching, leadership development, legacy, resilience, mentoring, communication, community building   

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