Uncertainty, Change & Leadership – 2023 & beyond!

Uncertainty, Change & Leadership – 2023 & beyond!

“If there’s one thing that’s certain in business, it’s uncertainty.”?– Stephen Covey

It's difficult to look forward to 2023 without apprehension. With several warning signs of a looming recession, technology firms are undergoing layoffs, and employees are concerned about their future. In Marshall Goldsmith's words, "What got you here won't get you there." So, it's important that leaders stay open-minded, be adaptable, and expand their range to deliver value to their stakeholders and inspire their organizations.

Uncertainty is the name of the game and if you are a leader who operates with only clear plans, time to change! You need to manage uncertainty, embrace ambiguity, and make it look real with whatever information you have available. More importantly keep “hope” in the system. Leader shoulder great responsibility, especially in trying and unprecedented times of uncertainty and change. They must deal with ambiguity, make unpopular decisions and tradeoffs, manage stakeholders, motivate employees, act ethically, and maintain a healthy bottom line. They must satisfy the needs of today to get a shot at creating the future, which requires the juggling act of aligning and carrying all stakeholders along with them. No question, challenging times require a different leadership approach. Below are few views on how to show value for your business in uncertain time, create hope and demonstrate leadership for yourself and your teams -

#1 Lead with core values:?

Imagine you drop an egg and a ping pong ball on a hard surface. The egg will crack, while the ping pong ball will bounce. The material makeup of an egg and a ping pong ball is different. The tennis ball, not the egg, illustrates the desired mentality of a leader. Staying true to who you are, your core values, and your strengths will help you stay grounded during difficult times. Values will be an integral part of driving change, making unpopular decisions and staying true and real to oneself and your teams. Don’t ever underestimate the power of value systems and if you are still not having it in black & white, it is high time to write it on a piece of a paper and stick in your heart & mind.

#2 Rally the ‘SMART’ troops around a common purpose:?

Getting your resources, people, and technology for a common cause, showing that lighthouse to your team is essential. Earmark “SMART” people in your team, hire smarter people than you and then don’t tell them what to do!

Prioritize the "why" over the "what" and "how" when communicating with your teams. When leaders fail to get their teams to work together toward a common goal, people start competing instead of working together. This could be very detrimental to the entire effort to “where “are you headed.

#3 Make your presence felt:?

As a leader your superpower is your ability to connect with your stakeholders— investors, clients, markets, boards and employees& then the rest of the world. As a leader you understand the power of connecting with your people to engage and energize them. You need to conduct that next townhall urging your teams and leaders to do more. You are among the soldiers in the trenches. Show care! You visit the injured and comfort families who have lost loved ones in the hospital. On social media, you are broadcasting your highs and lows. Being a visible leader inspires your employees to fight for your organization's future, especially during a crisis.

#4: Think about the long-term gains.?Don’t think short term!

Taking both the short-term and long-term views has saved lives for over hundreds of years in healthcare. Similarly, no organization can be world-class in everything. Leaders must prioritize the work to create and deliver value. Distinguish between strategic, critical, and outsourced work. It enables organizations to stay true to their core, make the right tradeoffs, and accelerate their growth.

#5 Optimism is the only choice:?

"Not all storms are out to disrupt your life. Some are here to clear a path for you." - Paulo Coelho

This one is my personal favorite, and one can’t deny the important of this specially in times of crisis & uncertainty. Giving HOPE & POSITIVITY does not go waste at any day!

Leaders must acknowledge the current economic reality to have credibility but double down on the possibilities. Optimism is not optional during challenging times. It is like warmth during a cold winter night. When missing, it's easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees.

Refuse to allow circumstances to limit your imagination. What opportunities do you see during these uncertain and challenging times? To embrace a possibility mindset, start by improving yourself. You will need clarity of purpose, courage, and a psychologically safe environment where people are open to sharing unconventional ideas. As your perspective shifts, so will your opportunities and the outcomes you achieve.

Leverage your culture:?It is easy to talk about an organization's culture during good times. In reality, what an organization values are revealed during difficult times. When seeking solutions and having difficult conversations, it is crucial that leaders use their values and culture as the design criteria. Employees are taking notes. They assess whether their leaders will practice what they preach or if the company's vision, purpose, and culture are just words on a page. Tough times never last. So, organizations and leaders who place a premium on their employees' experiences can ride out even the most severe economic downturns

Closing

The global reach of COVID-19 was completely unexpected, producing seismic changes in business and society. It exposed the barriers we had erected concerning the why, what, and how of work and talent accessibility. Also, it demonstrated how resilience and an openness to possibilities could transform a crisis into an opportunity. No matter what the year 2023 brings, humans have always conquered adversity. Opportunities will emerge from the challenges of 2023. Go all out and keep an eye out for them.

?Lead it Right !