[FLR] Leading in Unpredictable Times: WWTFD—What Would Tina Fey Do? | Please Forward

Happy Friday,

My word for 2025: Unpredictable.

As we enter 2025, the air feels charged with uncertainty. From political upheavals and rapid advancements in AI to global policy shifts, economic disruptions, and seismic cultural changes, we are navigating waters that refuse to settle into a steady state. Consider the challenges ahead:

• Political changes in Canada, the?United States, Germany, France, South Korea, etc.
• The transformative impact of AI is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace.
• The withdrawal of several companies from their DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) commitments.
• Significant policy changes in how Facebook and its subsidiaries share & moderate content to its 3 billion users.
• Global trade shifts, including new tariffs affecting supply chains.
• The rethinking in the auto industry related to electrification
• Change between traditional media to substack, podcasters etc.
• Sudden ceasefires in the Middle East juxtaposed with ongoing instability.
• The imprisonment of the President of Korea and its implications for international relations.

The very word "unpredictable" — rooted in "un," meaning "not," and "predictable," meaning "foretell" or "declare before the event happens" — encapsulates this moment.

In such times, traditional leadership playbooks risk becoming obsolete. So, what's the alternative? For inspiration, let's turn to an unexpected yet profoundly relevant source:?@Tina Fey

Living in Unscripted Times: Lessons from Improv

Tina Fey, a master of improv and comedy, offers a framework uniquely suited to leading through unpredictability.?Her four rules of improvisation, while designed for the stage, provide a methodology for action, adaptability, and resilience in leadership:

1. Say "Yes, and"

This cornerstone of improv encourages openness and momentum. When faced with unexpected challenges or opportunities, leaders must first acknowledge reality ("Yes") and then build on it ("And").

For instance, imagine encountering a sudden regulatory change that disrupts your industry. Instead of resisting, say, "Yes, this is happening, and here's how we can leverage it to innovate." A "Yes and" mindset transforms resistance into possibility.

Application:

• Embrace change as an invitation rather than an obstacle.
• Encourage your team to generate ideas without shutting them down prematurely.
• Build a culture where adaptability and creativity thrive.

2. Make Statements

In improv, making bold statements moves the story forward. In leadership, decisive action amidst uncertainty provides direction and stability. Waiting for perfect clarity in unpredictable times often results in stagnation.

Leaders who step up with clarity of purpose inspire confidence. Even when the path is unclear, making statements rooted in your values and vision can rally teams and stakeholders.

Application:

• Communicate decisively, even when details are evolving.
• Anchor decisions in core principles to maintain credibility.
• Model confidence, even when outcomes are uncertain.

3. There Are No Mistakes, Only Opportunities

In improv, a misstep isn't a failure — it's a chance to create something unexpected. Similarly, in leadership, mistakes often hold the seeds of innovation and growth.

When Meta changes its content-sharing practices or tariffs disrupt supply chains, these aren't merely obstacles but opportunities to rethink strategies and systems.

Application:

• Reframe mistakes as learning moments.
• Foster a team culture that sees setbacks as opportunities to pivot.
• Encourage curiosity over blame.

4. Listen—Truly Listen

Compelling improv relies on listening deeply to others, responding authentically, and building collaboratively. Leadership in unpredictable times demands the same.

Listening isn't just hearing words; it's understanding concerns, identifying unspoken needs, and aligning diverse perspectives. In the current climate, this skill is indispensable.

Application:

• Hold space for your team to voice fears and ideas.
• Stay attuned to signals from the broader environment.
• Build trust through empathetic and authentic interactions.

Embracing "Yes and" Leadership?Tina Fey's improv rules remind us that leadership isn't about having all the answers but embracing the unknown with curiosity, courage, and creativity. As we face 2025's unpredictability, let's channel Fey's wisdom: "Say yes, and figure it out later."

Doing so can turn chaos into collaboration, uncertainty into innovation, and disruption into opportunity. In times like these, the best leaders don't just survive the unscripted; they thrive in it.

Along the road with you,

Alan

Leading Through Transition

P.S. It’s always the right time to support your team through transitions. Connect with Matt Goff, VP of Partner Solutions, to discover how our outplacement and transition services can help you lead with care and confidence.

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P.P.S. It’s always a good time to invest in your team’s growth. Let us support your people and culture needs. Connect with Matt Goff, VP of Partner Solutions, to explore how we can help.

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