What If There Was a Way? Leading with Innovation During Challenging Times

Every leader will face moments when uncertainty looms large and barriers appear insurmountable. One of today’s most pressing challenges is born from news of a potential freeze on federal Medicaid funding—a decision that could impact millions of families, healthcare systems, and local communities across the nation.

For business leaders, policymakers, and visionaries, this situation highlights a universal truth: challenges this significant require a shift in thinking—one that transcends blame or fear. They call for innovation, creativity, and resilience. They call for asking, "What If There Was a Way?"

The WITWAW mindset has enabled leaders in every field—healthcare, technology, engineering, and beyond—to uncover unexpected solutions to seemingly unfixable problems. So how can leaders leverage this mindset to respond to today’s complexities, whether in healthcare or elsewhere?

Applying the WITWAW Mindset to Leadership Challenges

Here’s what leaders at every level can take away from the Medicaid Freeze:

1. Reimagine Resources

Instead of focusing on what’s no longer available, leaders need to ask: What if there was a way to stretch the resources we already have while maintaining the quality of care and services?

Consider companies adopting telemedicine during the pandemic, enabling healthcare systems to serve patients effectively even with fewer physical resources. This is a reminder that creativity with what’s already in hand can spur breakthroughs.

?? Leadership Insight: During resource-tight times, audit what you have, identify underutilized assets (budgets, skills, partnerships), and explore ways to amplify their impact.

2. Lean Into Collaboration

Big moments of change are rarely solved in isolation: What if there was a way to bring together diverse perspectives—cross-industry or cross-sector—to inspire unexpected solutions?

For example, partnerships between health insurers and community organizations have been piloted to fund affordable preventative care. These collaborations keep the focus on people instead of policy hurdles.

?? Leadership Insight: Build coalitions. Whether you’re in healthcare, tech, or any other industry, seek out partnerships, cross-functionality, or even pilot programs that bring fresh energy into solving your biggest challenge.

3. Prioritize Technology and Data Innovation

Technology repeatedly gives us the chance to say, "What if there was a way to solve this problem in less time, with less waste, and with equal or better results?”

AI, predictive analytics, and scalable digital platforms are transforming industries at an accelerated pace—and moments like these give leaders the chance to double down on using those tools to find solutions.

?? Leadership Insight: Tap into low-cost yet high-impact technologies to streamline systems, reduce inefficiencies, and scale access to services.

4. Focus on Long-Term Benefits Over Quick Fixes

When changes feel sudden or disruptive, asking, “What if there was a way to turn this into a long-term advantage?” can shift the conversation.

In healthcare, temporary funding challenges can spark advancements in preventative care, localized solutions, or resilient systems designed to avoid similar vulnerabilities in the future. The same principle applies to business—they’re moments to innovate systems for sustainability rather than patch problems.

?? Leadership Insight: Reframe short-term challenges into long-term transformation opportunities. Put sustainable systems or processes in place today that create enduring improvement.

5. Engage Your Team With the WITWAW Question

The leaders who thrive during moments of uncertainty are not the ones who take on the burden alone. They’re the ones who inspire their teams to think differently by asking empowering questions like:

• What if there was a way to deliver results despite the challenges?
• What if we completely reimagined how we approach this problem?

Engaged teams are agile teams—and bold, creative thinking spreads quickly when people feel empowered to own a solution.

?? Leadership Insight: Don’t just rely on your own ideas—prompt your team to think innovatively and collaboratively. Solutions often come from unexpected contributors and perspectives.

Leadership Beyond Limits

The news of a potential Medicaid freeze is a stark reminder: crises will always challenge us. But they are also opportunities for leaders to lean into ingenuity and resilience. The WITWAW mindset—the simple but transformational ability to ask, “What if there was a way?”—has birthed solutions that once seemed impossible.

For leaders, this is the moment to take a step back, reframe the challenge, and ask questions that inspire creative thinking and long-term success—not just for their organizations, but for the people and communities they serve.

Because asking the right question not only opens doors—it creates momentum.

?? How can YOU apply the WITWAW mindset in your leadership today? What bold questions are you asking to overcome your biggest challenges? Share your ideas in the comments below—I’d love to hear how you're building solutions.

Having an Executive Coach isn't just beneficial—it's transformative. Imagine having a trusted partner who deeply understands your challenges, someone who can help you navigate the complexities of leadership with empathy and courage. An Executive Coach provides tailored guidance, helping you unlock your unique strengths and make decisions with clarity and conviction. They offer candid, unbiased feedback, fostering a culture of continuous growth and authentic leadership. This isn't just about professional success; it's about becoming the best version of yourself. By investing in an Executive Coach, you're not just committing to goals—you're embracing a journey of profound personal and organizational impact.

Our Executive Impact Coaching is designed to amplify your impact within your organization through values-based leadership practices. We will customize your program based on our exclusive "5 Elements of Impact" which include:

• Non-Negotiable Values Discovery

Black Sheep Values? Assessment: Identify your 5 non-negotiable values to make fast deliberate decisions that align with what matters most to you.

• Tailored Coaching

Weekly 1-on-1 Sessions: Having an outlet OUTSIDE your organization to have open, real, raw conversations is a healthy way to unburden yourself and get honest feedback from someone without a dog in the fight. Your time is your most valuable asset. Each week, we will have focused time-sensitive sessions tailored to your specific challenges and goals.

• Development

Condensed Book Summaries: Having time to read all the relevant books in your space is next to impossible with your schedule. We will provide exclusive access to our "Lazy Library" with broken-down key learning points from the most impactful personal development books available.

• Connection

Presentation and Narrative Training: We will help you understand how to craft and share personal stories to build a talk or presentation for maximum impact and emotional connection with unprecedented retention.

• Branding

Personal Brand Building: We will provide weekly curated content including relevant articles, quotes, and memes that resonate and align with your values that can be shared with your team.

Burning Questions

Got a question or a story about how you're living out being a purpose-driven Connected Leader? Reply to this newsletter and we might feature you in our next issue!

Burn with Purpose is more than a newsletter; it's a community of driven individuals set on living a life with deliberate intention and meaning that creates an undeniable impact. Remember, you have the power to set yourself on fire with purpose - so grab a match.

Until next week, keep burning bright.

To stay ignited, subscribe to Burn with Purpose and join us on this transformative journey.

Brant Menswar stands at the forefront of corporate transformation, masterfully equipping both organizations and individual trailblazers to navigate the current work landscape and ascend to new heights of performance. He is a best-selling author, certified in the Psychology of Leadership from Cornell University, named one of the country's top speakers, and is well on his way to achieving his goal of helping 500,000 people discover their non-negotiable values.

His dynamic live events are a fusion of groundbreaking research and powerful narratives that ignite an emotional call to action among attendees. With more than a decade of strategic involvement with elite global brands, Brant has honed an unparalleled expertise in catalyzing connection, sparking engagement, and driving exponential growth.

Check out Brant's website HERE.