How can I stay confident and grounded when faced with tough times and uncertainty?

It's tough.

Period.

And anyone who’s faced hard times will tell you as much. Whether it's a leader letting someone go, a seller hearing they've lost the deal, or a candidate missing out on a promotion, delivering and receiving bad news is, well... you guessed it... tough!

So, how do you stay confident and grounded during these moments you'd rather avoid without becoming a victim to the story or event?

In other words…

When Disruption Hits, How Do You Lead Through It?

Every leader - whether an entrepreneur, CEO, or sales professional - knows the sting of indecision and the nagging question,

'What is the right choice for me to make, right now?

Because there's that persistent second-guessing, wondering if others will trust your judgment and wrestling with the struggle to communicate clearly when the stakes are high.

Because in these times of uncertainty the stakes can mean loss of what matters most - security, predictability and for some, mainly men - identity!

I know this first hand (not the guy part - clearly! ?? although my husband has).

But I've lived through one of life’s ultimate fears - losing the #1 thing humans value most of all - security, safety, a roof over your head - your home.

Bankruptcy forced me to confront every belief I held about certainty and predictability. It shook me. But it also taught me that while we can’t control the mayhem, upheaval, and pain, we can control how we navigate it (yes, it’s a cliché, but it’s also true).

As a leader in todays BANI era, your ability to stay grounded can be threatened by countless factors, many outside of your control:

?? The market and economy shifts around you unexpectedly, especially this week.

?? Pressure from higher-up trickles down, and you're bearing the brunt.

?? Your team begins to fall apart before your eyes, and you can only do so much.

?? Communication breaks down between departments leaving you stranded in the middle. I could go on… but you get my drift!

Here's what I know to be true for leaders of leaders, of teams and of self.

The Five Principles

While being asked to write on this topic, I reflected on FIVE principles that helped us stay grounded during tough times.

1. Embrace the ‘Isness’ of Now

Accept what you’re going through without letting it define your potential. Ask yourself - If there’s a solution, what’s my first step? If there is no immediate solution, recognize the situation for what it is, that it is what it is, and channel your energy into what you can control.

2. Frame It with Time

Will this matter six months from now? 12 months? 2 years? Viewing challenges through a longer lens helps clear the fog and keeps you from over-investing in what may only be temporary. Trust me on this one - our emotions can distort our perspective - remove the emotions and look through the lens of time and facts.

3. Extract the Lesson

Every crisis holds hidden wisdom. What’s this moment teaching you about yourself, your team, or your vision? These insights will guide your next moves if you can be philosophical - this is a gift if you can tap into a different part of your self. This is where faith comes into play, allowing you to make meaning from these tough experiences which is why it is so much more than just 'bouncing back' - it's spiralling up and out.

4. Turn Pain into Progress

Where does it hurt the most? Disruptions reveal gaps and areas for growth - whether in products, culture, teams, or yourself. Tap into them and let these insights drive some kind of improvement, once again enabling you to build beyond resilience.

5. Stay Rooted in Your Dreams

In uncertain times, balance the facts and the detaching of emotions with dreaming . Some refer to their “why,” but for others, that’s too big a concept for such a little word. Instead, think about your “dream” team, strong relationships with leadership, a loyal client base, financial security, or a fulfilling life.

The Seekers, an Australian band, had a song I used to sing that kept me going in those tough times and I'll share the lyrics here -

Keep a dream in your pocket and a song in your heart,

Keep the lamp of your learnin' burnin' bright.

Keep your eye on your horizon and a smile on your face,

As you travel down the highway of your life.

So, keep that dream in your pocket. Hold onto it tightly through the disruptions, because it’s that dream that keeps you moving forward.

Would love to know which one of the 5 resonates the most with you and why.

Hope it helps…

Cheers, and as usual,

Stay Bold, Brave, and Brilliant,

Bernadette

If you’re ready to turn DELIBERATE DISRUPTION into TRANSFORMATION, let’s connect. As an executive coach, sales mentor, and keynote speaker on disruption and courage, I work with leaders facing disruption, helping them find clarity, purpose, and resilience in challenging times. DM me to explore how we can navigate this journey together.

And before I forget...

Join me next week, 7th November at 3:30 pm Mountain Time for this Business Intensive Webinar where I will be sharing 5 Key Principles for Leadership in Disruptive Times - ? ZERO UPSELL - ?? CONTENT.

Bring a notebook, a pen, some popcorn and an open mind...

Click on the image to secure your seat!