One of the hard truths about leadership is that tragedy is among the most crucial moments for leaders. In times of tragedy followers are looking carefully at their leader, watching, listening, weighing, and concluding the leader’s actions and words and gestures. Tragedy is perhaps the pivotal test of a leader’s abilities. And the next hard truth is this: tragedy is always headed right for you; it’s unavoidable. The only unknown is when it will come. As a leader, you need to prepare as much as you can for tragedy. You can’t ever prepare completely, I realize that, but you can at the least spend moments and effort at envisioning your thoughts and deeds for the next time tragedy strikes.