Leadership through Uncertainty, Part 1

“May you live in interesting times,” the old adage goes. From Great Britain’s Brexit vote to leave the European Union and its ensuing uncertain economic future, to the very real fear of terrorism spreading throughout the world, to the rancorous and divisive presidential race in the United States, we, indeed, are living in turbulent and uncertain times that will serve as a test to the quality of our leaders.

This volatility shines a spotlight on an organization’s leadership, and it is during times like these that great leaders take decisive steps. Through their actions, these leaders set an example throughout an organization, standing as the difference between thriving in a crisis and suffering irreparable damage.

So how do effective leaders deal with uncertainty? Over the next two posts, I will talk about 10 key points that define effective leadership for organizations to consider. These areas of focus might make the difference between winning and losing in competitive markets.

• Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
  Uncertainty can create anxiety that spreads across the workforce, customers, suppliers and investors. Interpreted as bad news, silence is not an answer and can only make things worse. Therefore, it is vital to rigorously communicate a clear perspective on any situation and its ramifications for the organization.
• Help Others to Lead
  In turbulent and unpredictable times, an organization needs more than one person to lead. Rather than allowing stress and information overload to steer the ship, the best leaders step up and enable others to lead. This means creating additional leaders as catalysts for widespread change across leadership teams and boards.
• Plan for the Short and Long Term
  Strong leaders are able to devote the necessary resources for an organization’s immediate needs while maintaining focus on long-term strategic goals. They make the hard choices necessary to address short-term priorities and display the courage it takes to preserve investments essential to the long-term health of an organization.  Where some are guided by the “optics” of their decisions, strong leaders understand the sacrifices required to preserve strategic direction and stay the course.
• Focus on Core Values
  The mission, culture and values of an organization are put to the test in turbulent times. Great leaders galvanize those around them, identifying “culture carriers” in order to set a visible example by reinforcing the culture and values that can guide an organization through difficult periods. Consistently communicated, these enduring values are the best tools for successfully navigating short-term challenges.
• Engage Early, with Purpose and Humility
  Even under intense pressure, great leaders must engage purposefully with those around them to marshal an organization’s energy. They also must create a sense of togetherness by displaying the humility to listen to a wide range of opinions across the organization at various levels and focus on asking questions instead of simply providing answers.

With economic, social and political upheaval on a global scale, these are challenging times. As uncertainty increases and begins to negatively affect a company’s bottom line, some might look to circle the proverbial wagons to wait out the storm. However, strong leaders with a true understanding of both short- and long-term goals will see this as an opportunity to bolster leadership across their organization.

By emphasizing clear and constant communication, fostering future leaders, understanding immediate and future organizational needs, maintaining core values and exhibiting humility, strong and effective leaders can help safely steer their organization through the present storm and onto calmer seas.