My friend Sarah leads some pretty sweet events at U.S. Airways Center in PHX. She shared with me her axiom of leadership during crunch time with large events, national headline concerts, WWE extravaganzas and NBA playoff runs. It might sound a little silly, but of her aims during these high pressure events is to “lead like a duck… Be cool and smooth on the surface and work really hard behind the scenes.”

In your leadership, it matters what others see and experience in you on the surface. Are you smooth, cool and calm? Do you carry with you grace, patience and a calming chill along with your clear direction, decisive nature and paced rhythm?

Then of course there is what is going on behind the scene or ‘under the surface of the water’. Be the event is awesome and it matters, you be working hard and giving it your very best. Did you adequately prepare ahead of time? Are you constantly thinking through the event? Is every