Seven Things Great Leaders do in the Face of Unending Uncertainty
We all know leading organizations today means leaning into continual change and uncertainty coming at us from every direction. Geopolitical threats, economic uncertainty, and environmental disasters continue to impact organizations of all sizes across industries at an accelerating pace.
Here are 7 things great leaders do to stay the course as the sand shifts beneath their feet and they aren’t certain what to do next:
They overcome the red alert signals in their brain and know not to freeze. They determine appropriate next steps instead of shutting down.
They cast change as an opportunity and not a threat both for themselves and for their people.
They remember their actions matter and that their people are watching them and looking to them to point the way regarding next steps when faced with uncertainty.
Instead of focusing on the unknown they focus on what they know and can control.
They redefine success by looking for short-term wins and celebrating those. They don’t ignore long-term goals, but realize current short-term focus is what is required in the midst of change and uncertainty.
They remind their people of what is not changing such as their organization’s mission, strategy, and core values.
They tell their people what they do know and what they don’t know and keep their people apprised of new information they can share as it becomes available. Great leaders remember that in the midst of an information void during organization change the informal keepers of culture will make up their version of reality and socialize it all over the company.
At Conover Consulting we have been developing leaders for decades. If you need help becoming a leader who welcomes change and provides the best leadership to their people in uncertain times, reach out to laura@conoverconsulting.com.