Navigating Uncharted Territories at Work and in Your Career.

Aging myself a bit, but over the last two decades, I’ve worked through some uncertain times in my professional career starting with 9/11 while working in politics while still in college, as a corporate fundraiser during the economic collapse in 2008, as the crisis response lead for a national non-profit managing its way through reputation-damaging attacks, and today advising clients on crisis communications. 

Having learned from those trial-by-fire experiences, I wanted to share some sound advice about uncharted territories and how to navigate them.

No matter what you do professionally or where you work, do these three things in uncertain times to help you navigate troubled waters:

1. Don't lose sight of your core value, organizationally or individually.   

As New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick says, "DO YOUR JOB".  Focus on your individual role; focus on what you can control. Don't get distracted by others not doing theirs.  Do what you do best; actually, focus on doing it even better.  Companies that are taken down by crises— economic or otherwise— are not often taken down by the crisis itself; they are taken down by not delivering on their core value propositions that caused them to be successful in the first place.  

It is super easy to get caught up in the never-ending news/ social media cycle or sit at home hitting refresh on your 401k prognosticating over the worst-case scenario.  Analysis paralysis can set in because there are so many factors outside of your control.  With an infinite number of what-ifs that can't be answered, it is easy, perhaps even instinctual, to pause work or lose focus.  

2. In times like this, place laser focus on your goals. 

A lot of people will and are losing focus on their goals— don't be one of those people. Your success, the success of the company or cause you work for hinge on your actions in these times.  Whatever your primary objective is from making widgets to selling cars, to raising money for your non-profit, don't be distracted from your professional purpose. 

Are your goals going to be harder to reach than before? YES. However, persevering and doing everything within your control to reach your stated benchmarks despite the circumstance will set you up for success now and when things change for the better.   Even if your previous goal may now seem unattainable, achieving 85 percent of your goals versus 30 percent are dramatically different outcomes and maybe the difference between keeping the lights on or closing up shop. Don't have goals set?  There is no better time to write them down, share them and hold yourself to account for them.  While others are making excuses about not reaching goals and losing sight of the long game, you will be building your pathway to success.    

3. Seize opportunities.  

Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is famous for saying, "You never let a serious crisis go to waste.”

I prefer the more extended version of the quote:

"You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that, it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before." 

What are you going to do with this opportunity that you could never do before?

Chaz Cirame is the Founder of Cc: External Affairs, Inc. 

Cc: External Affairs, Inc. – helps corporations, trade associations, public affairs firms, and non-profits develop long-term partnerships to reach and exceed their goals - be they shaping public opinion, achieving legislative outcomes, or building lasting strategic alliances.