Sunday March 9, it is 6am, I am in a taxi on my way to the airport. My flight to Amsterdam then on to Tampa is scheduled on time.
The sun is rising over Paris. Spring is near. It’s going to be a great day.
I’m looking forward to facilitating a 4 day management workshop for Contact Consulting’s high luxury client.
And then…things didn’t go according to plan.
We had just taken off for Tampa. Flying over the North Sea, seeing the Netherlands’ beautiful coastline. Then there was a very loud boom, then another one, and then another one. This didn’t sound like 3 times lucky. Clearly our plane was no longer gaining height. For a few minutes, I reacted almost mechanically. Bear with me: I tied my shoelaces, put my computer away, put on headphones and closed my eyes. I didn’t want to know what was coming next. Then our pilot announced that we were circling back to Amsterdam.
I sat waiting. Frozen. Probably the longest landing I ever encountered.
Once we’d landed, and despite the security announcements, people immediately stood up and took their luggage out of the overhead compartments (but hey guys, we’re not going anywhere…for the time being at least), blocking the security staff’s way to the pilot. I wrote to my kids and hubby. Just evacuating all my tension and stress. I received very different reactions (obviously I was clearly OK!) from all 3. That might be for another story 😉 on communication (#PCM)
The pilot announced that we were “deplaning”. I never heard that before (hey I learnt something new!) Back at the gate, we were informed that one of the engines was malfunctioning and that we would be re-assigned to various planes to the US with connections to Tampa. All 300 of us. I must say my admiration for the ground crew coping with very annoyed customers.
It’s at this point that I noticed how I was handling this news. There was clearly nothing I could do but to accept. I was going to spend the night in Amsterdam and re-routed to Tampa via Detroit the following day. It was going to be a long haul with very little time between my final arrival time and the start of a 4 day workshop. So be it.
Once I arrived at my hotel, I decided to go for a walk. Even near the airport, Amsterdam is a charming place. Canals and cute little cottages. Springtime meant flower bulbs blooming. Ducks and other waterfowls everywhere. Kids on bikes. Families in the parks. When I got back from my walk, I had thought of many things, in particular new facilitation exercises for my upcoming workshop.
I spent the next 2 hours writing, searching (thanks ChatGPT!) testing and re-organising. I probably wouldn’t have done that if I had dwelled on how things didn’t quite go according to plan. I even had time to do some admin work!
The following morning I got up early to read that my re-assigned plane would have 2 hours delay. No problem. I took time to have a leisurely breakfast. After all, I didn’t know what the day had in store for me 😊
As you read this, I am facilitating the workshop. I’ll let you know how it went in another issue.
when things don’t go as planned, how do you respond? Do you resist, adapt, or reframe?
Moments like these test more than just patience – they reveal our flexibility, emotional regulation, and resilience under pressure. As leaders, our ability to navigate ambiguity, stay solution-focused, and maintain a steady presence directly impacts those around us.
So, next time the unexpected happens, try this:
– Pause and assess – what’s within your control? What’s the smartest next step?
– Reframe the narrative – is this a setback, or an opportunity to pivot and grow?
– Lead by example – how do you show up when plans derail? How you handle uncertainty sets the tone for your team’s response.
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about holding space for uncertainty, staying grounded in the moment, and moving forward with purpose.
Anita Cassagne, Founder & Coach at The Laughing Willow.