Survival drives us more than anything else. History is littered with stories of people betraying their own allies, lying without remorse, twisting judicial systems, and committing unspeakable acts—all in the name of survival. The evidence is everywhere; we just have to look.
Now, imagine what happens when our people go into survival mode. Maybe they fear losing their job due to a restructuring. Their contract is ending. Their project is failing. A new system is automating their role.
As leaders, we must recognise when our teams feel trapped in survival mode. It’s on us to communicate the bigger picture, give them clarity, and help them navigate forward. This isn’t just their problem—it’s our problem. And if we ignore it? It won’t just stay a problem. It will become a crisis for us to deal with!
