How to Lead Through Turbulence and Uncertainty with Clarity and Confidence
Enough with the hand wringing.
- Don’t pretend things are easy when they’re hard
- Don’t run around with your hair on fire, or you’ll burn out.
#1. Acknowledge challenges.
#2. Communicate with empathy.
#3. Go with your highest point of clarity.
There are a million points of uncertainty that create paralysis.
Find a reasonable point of clarity and act.
#4. Stay present.
Navigate current challenges. Do things that answer immediate concerns.
Don’t plan the distant future.
Drama mongers create anxiety by focusing on the distant future. “What are we going to do when this is over?”
Focus on present concerns.
Figure out the distant future tomorrow.
#5. Reflect on grit.
Think about a time when you worked through difficulty and uncertainty. With a past challenge in mind, ask reflection questions.
- How were you creative when you weren’t sure what to do?
- What qualities helped you work through that difficulty? How are those qualities relevant today?
- How are you different because you worked through past difficulty? How will you be different after working through this difficulty?
- What makes you proud when you think about working through past difficulties and uncertainties?
- What might you do today that will become a point of personal pride when this is over?
(Employ the above questions for personal reflection. Use them with your team.)
Tip: When using reflection questions with others, make room for silence. Reflection takes time. Don’t interrupt thought.
#6. Listen to your heart.
What comes to mind when you think, “How will we take care of each other and our customers?”
Call your clients:
- What specific challenges are you facing?
- How is this situation impacting your business?
- How might I help?
#7. Avoid long-term decisions.
Flexibility and agility need room to respond.
Don’t lock yourself into long-term decisions when the house is on fire.
What should leaders avoid doing during turbulence and uncertainty?
What serves leaders and organizations well when there’s turbulence and uncertainty?
Bonus material:
7 Ways Successful Leaders Deal with Uncertainty and Chaos (Inc)
4 Strategies for Leading in Uncertain Times (Leading with Trust)
COVID-19: 7 Ways to Lead in Uncertain Times (Great Place to Work)
You always have valuable thoughts. Haven’t read you for a while. I’ll fix that. 🙂
Hey Stuart. Thanks for popping in. I look forward to learning from your insights. Best wishes
I love number 5. After several opportunities to lead through operational “turn arounds” my ability to reflect back on prior adventures has given me far greater confidence.
What should leaders avoid doing during turbulence and uncertainty? False hopes, share the facts and acknowledge you have been through this before. The other side is we will work through this as best we can, these are new situations that we can maneuver with some guidance, I spoke with ABC company earlier and they have guidance for us that we believe will work for this as they have faced this before. Don’t be afraid to step with admitting you consulted someone who has already walked the walk! Give credit when and were it is due.
What serves leaders and organizations well when there’s turbulence and uncertainty? The opportunity to bond and grow as a group/corporation, ,facing struggles tends to make us stronger.
Thanks for your insights, Tim. The idea of realistic optimism came to mind when I read your first paragraph.
Isolation is the enemy, even if we can’t physically connect. Focus on connectedness as much as possible. Thanks for the inspiraton.
This is key; Call your clients: What specific challenges are you facing? How is this situation impacting your business? How might I help? I’ve been slowly doing this with all customers that I interact with across North America. In my phone calls and emails I just ask how things are where they are at, I state we are still in business and adjusting almost daily as needed. I’ve found it just establishes a little bit better note of “we are in this togetherness” than normal and I’ve found people appreciate that. Stay safe everyone, stay positive (+) and aware and DO NOT PANIC
Thanks Roger. It’s the little things that make a big difference. Don’t try to be perfect. Don’t try to solve everything. Just connect, care, and be of service where possible.
Dan you are so spot on, I am not perfect (no one is), I can’t solve all challenges (I may try to); but I can connect, I can care and I can offer to be of service the best I can be.
Dear Dan,
An interesting post with good contents! At times, corporate leaders go through such tough situations and face challenges to reverse the disturbing trend with corrective bold steps. You have given a comprehensive list of actions what leaders usually follow.
I may add one missing point! Creating small task force teams with immediate goals and guiding them with required push can bring the desired output with lesser damages. .
Great suggestion, Dr. Asher. The term task force is important as well. It suggestions a short-term engagement, not a long-term committee that sucks the life out of people.
We made a list of things to do in quarantine, and one of the items on the list is ‘take time to consider where we’ll be 1 year from now’. Our business has been through many ups and downs and I want to remind my guys that we will get through this, maybe a little chewed up: but we will be here at the end of the year, and we’ll be responsible in some part, big, small, for what our little corner of the world looks for. Stay well, everyone
Thanks Cate. It’s useful to think about how we will be when this passes. One of my questions is, “How can I act in ways that will make me proud when I think back on this?” Or maybe, “How can I do something that I would brag to mom about?”
Appreciating this strong and practical message for both leaders in work and at home, for parents, teachers, retirees and anyone who may feel unsure. Reflecting on past “grit” filled experiences reminds us of our strengths and dealing with NOW brings added focus to what we can do. Remembering to go within during meditation or prayer for a few moments each day allows me to resteady my own inner compass. Thanks Dan Rockwell.
Positively, Pauline
Thanks Amazingly. I have to say that you out-did me on being concise today!! Thanks.
Thank you for providing timely and relevant material blog followers. I believe the best thing you can provide in times of uncertainty is consistency. I will sometimes say “control the things you are in control of and the rest will fall where they may.” This is not applicable to all situations but I try to stress finding balance in what you can contribute or influence. Consistency with routine, communication, and/or expectations can give the team something to hold on to while moving through challenging times; it also provides a sense of leadership for those looking to you for guidance.
Take care of one another during these heavy days – finding the small victory of the day can provide the light in darkness.
Thanks Kishla. Yes, Keep being who you are. I’m happy that so much of what I’ve written in the past is relevant to what’s happening now. Especially the posts about managing energy and emotion.
Love the word of encouragement at the end of your comment.
Dan, thank you for #3. “Go with your highest point of clarity.” which is valuable both for dealing with uncertainty at work and reassuring others at home. The media can overwhelm us with those million points of uncertainty because it’s their job to share a range of the possible….but leaders bring clarity when we focus on tangible facts and how we can act on them “now”.
Thanks Susan. I’m glad you found #3 useful. I have the gift of confusion. I can make anything confusing. Years ago I shifted from exploring every possibility to going with my highest point of clarity. It’s made a huge difference.
In a perfect world I would already have a plan for times like this. I for one have a good COOP but all my ideas did not fit neatly inside of this situation. What not to do in times like this? Don’t make major changes! Your people are unsettled already now is not the time to add stress. Hold on and communicate to your team. Don’t hold back, let them vent, let them suggest options. Often they have a completely different view then you.
Thanks Walt. Part of your comment speaks to continuing to connect. I find that isolation is exhausting. We need each other. We need to learn from each other. We need people to row the boat with us.
If this post hadn’t just come out today I would swear that my boss had already read it and used it in the communication she wrote last night for today. She exemplifies most everything you wrote about today. From outward appearances she has stayed calm and level-headed as she’s made decisions for our program since last week and kept every employee informed and in her thoughts. I want to give a big shout out to Mindy L, the Director of Lower Columbia College Head Start in Longview WA. I’m proud to be part of her team.
I can remember times when I was completely and totally overwhelmed, and I did not know how I would get everything done. I had to stop and remind myself that I only have 2 hands, there is only one of me, and I can only do as much as I can do. There were several times when my coworkers were taking dangerous shortcuts that jeopardized safety, in order to speed up their work output. When I refused to risk safety for production, I was chastised for being “slower” than everyone else. It created a tremendous amount of stress, self-doubt and sometimes even paralysis, as mentioned. But in the end, doing the right thing and focusing on the present has always paid off, and that makes me very proud!