Crisis Leadership: Staying Cool and Collected Under Pressure
👋🏻 Hello growth seekers,
On a gray morning in New York, as Emily Weiss walked into Glossier’s bustling headquarters, she was at the helm of a company that had become one of the most talked-about beauty brands in the world. Yet behind the scenes, it was also a company in flux — a fast-growing startup now wrestling with the complexities of scale, shifting customer expectations, and growing internal friction. This was not the kind of pressure that announces itself with a single crisis; it was the slow, creeping accumulation of operational challenges, product delays, and questions about leadership that can quietly erode a business if left unchecked. In moments like this, many leaders are tempted to act for the sake of action — to gather the team, set new goals, or push ahead with a decisive announcement to show they’re in control. But what set Emily apart was her refusal to be pulled into the chaos. She recognized that leadership under pressure isn’t about moving fast to ease discomfort — it’s about taking time to understand what is truly happening beneath the surface. That day, instead of rushing into meetings armed with quick answers, she made the harder choice: to pause and truly listen. She gave herself and her leadership team permission to step back, to ask difficult questions about where Glossier was headed, and to explore whether the company was still aligned with the vision that had fueled its early success. In doing so, Emily embodied a rare form of leadership — one that chooses thoughtful reflection over frantic reaction, and that understands clarity cannot be forced but must be cultivated, even under pressure.
💬 The Discipline of Honest Conversation
What is perhaps most remarkable about Emily Weiss’s leadership during Glossier’s turbulent periods is her commitment to honest and transparent dialogue, both with her team and with the broader community around her brand. In high-pressure situations, it’s common for leaders to retreat into polished, rehearsed messaging, hoping that projecting confidence will resolve uncertainty. But Emily took a different route. She was clear-eyed about the challenges Glossier faced, from navigating product expansions that didn’t always land with customers to managing internal organizational strain as the company scaled. Instead of pretending to have all the answers, she opened up real conversations — conversations that acknowledged where things weren’t working and sought input from those around her. For leaders in corporate environments, this is a powerful reminder that authority does not come from always knowing what to do, but from the courage to admit when there are real issues to solve. Emily’s approach created a space where people could engage without fear, where new ideas could surface, and where trust was deepened, not eroded, by her vulnerability. It reflects an understanding that leading through a crisis is not just about setting direction, but also about creating an emotional climate in which people feel safe to face reality together. It’s a discipline — because honesty, especially under pressure, takes effort and intentionality. Yet it’s also one of the most effective tools a leader can have to keep a team aligned and engaged when things are tough.
🔍 Calm as a Strategy, Not a Mood
In observing Emily Weiss’s leadership journey, what stands out most is how deliberate her calmness is — not a casual personality trait, but a strategic choice made over and over again in moments when everything around her was in flux. Remaining composed in crisis isn’t about being unaffected; it’s about focusing energy where it’s needed most and refusing to be hijacked by panic or ego. For Emily, this calm focus became especially critical as Glossier faced questions about its future: Was the company growing too fast? Had it lost touch with its core community in the pursuit of scale? Should it change direction entirely? These were complex, high-stakes questions that could not be answered in a day or with a simple memo. By staying calm, Emily created the conditions to explore these issues deeply, to challenge assumptions, and to refocus the company’s efforts without tearing down what had been built. This form of leadership is fundamentally anchored in clarity of purpose — knowing what you stand for and using that knowledge to guide action when circumstances are unclear. It reflects a deep alignment between values and decisions, something behavioral science points to as essential for authentic leadership. Emily’s steadiness was not about detachment from the pressure she faced; rather, it was about channeling that pressure into thoughtful leadership. She showed that staying composed is itself a leadership move — one that stabilizes teams, invites clearer thinking, and allows an organization to move forward with integrity, even when navigating through fog.
Practical tools
In this "Practical Tools" section, we've put together a set of resources to support your personal growth journey. Chosen for those keen to explore deeper and refine their leadership qualities, these tools are designed with genuine intention. Here, it's all about taking meaningful steps towards personal betterment. Let's begin!”
🎭Strategic Vulnerability — Communicate Without Pretending to Know Everything
When Glossier hit turbulence, Emily Weiss didn’t pretend she had all the answers — nor did she lose her footing. She practiced strategic vulnerability, a leadership move that acknowledges complexity without losing authority. Instead of oversimplifying or overpromising, she engaged her team in open conversations, balancing honesty with direction. Leaders who master this communicate: “Here’s what I see, here’s what I don’t yet know, and here’s how we’ll move forward together.” Business research confirms that this blend of transparency and steadiness builds deeper trust, especially under pressure. It’s a way of holding the room — not with all the answers, but with presence, clarity, and realness that inspires confidence.
🎯 Ruthless Prioritization — Focus on the Critical Few, Not the Many
One of Weiss’ sharpest leadership lessons is choosing what matters most when everything feels urgent. When Glossier faced pressure to keep scaling, she pulled back to focus on core products and customer loyalty — resisting the temptation to do everything at once. This is what top business schools teach as ruthless prioritization: cutting through the noise to act on the “critical few” issues that will move the business forward. It’s a discipline that requires saying no to good ideas to focus on essential ones, and clarifying to the team what’s most important right now. Leaders who practice this bring calm and direction when others feel scattered — they give people a real sense of focus and control.
Food For Thought
Welcome to the "Food for Thought" section, your gateway to a curated selection of resources that will nourish your curiosity and inspire your creative journey. In this corner of Growth Republic, we bring a collection of insightful resources that you can look for on the web, from thought-provoking podcasts or books, to illuminating online articles that can expand your horizons and deepen your understanding of the topics we explore. Consider it your intellectual pantry, stocked with ingredients to feed your mind, and ignite your creativity. Dive into these resources and let the feast of knowledge begin.
📚 Book: "The CEO Test: Master the Challenges That Make or Break All Leaders" by Adam Bryant and Kevin Sharer — A sharp, practical guide that addresses real leadership under pressure, with deep dives into how leaders can focus on what matters and communicate authentically when stakes are high.
📚 Book: "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown — A masterclass on ruthless prioritization, teaching leaders how to focus on the vital few rather than reacting to the many — especially relevant to Emily Weiss’ journey.
📰 Article: Harvard Business Review — "How to Be a Leader When Times Are Tough" — A concise but powerful read on leading with poise and strategic calm in uncertain environments, offering actionable frameworks for executives.
Quote Of The Week
"What gets measured gets managed." — Peter Drucker
About the Author
Hi, I am Cesare Zavalloni. I am a Certified Executive Coach by IMD business school and Associated Certified Coach (ACC), member of International Coaching Federation (ICF). I bring more than 20+ years of experience as corporate executive in Fortune 100 companies and as outdoor adventurer. My purpose is to guide, encourage and inspire young professionals and executives like you to see your authentic leadership nature and the new possibilities this realization creates.
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