Steady in the Storm: Leadership Principles In Turbulent Times

It’s often been said, “If you dislike change, you’re going to dislike irrelevancy even more.” One certainty as we navigate our personal and professional lives is this: there will be highs and there will be lows. How we handle each will ultimately dictate our happiness and success.

In our professional lives, here are four keys to help navigate organizational uncertainty—pillars for leaders to lean on as they strive to keep their teams on a path to sustained success:

1) Do Your Job

When an organization is struggling, it’s critical that each person focuses on their own responsibilities. The importance of concentrating on what you can control cannot be overstated. Teams that can steer through turbulence and avoid second-guessing leadership’s decisions have the best chance of rebounding from tough circumstances. This takes competitive stamina—the ability to stay focused on the details, keep working toward the goal, and show up day after day with the belief that better days lay ahead.

2) Stay True to the Mission

A strong team will withstand the storm and remain confident they’ll emerge stronger when normalcy returns. This takes confidence without evidence. Resilient people stay positive; they have an internal locus of control and a steadfast belief in themselves. Understanding that you can weather the storm—and that this too shall pass—can provide the motivation needed to keep pushing forward and to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

3) Empathize and Refocus

It’s a leader’s job to provide a realistic picture and be honest with the team. Failing to acknowledge the truth, especially when the team is aware of the situation, can erode trust in leadership. A good leader should recognize the challenges and then refocus the team’s efforts back to the first principle: control what you can and trust that if each person gives their best effort, success will follow. Leaders must not be blind to the reality but instead acknowledge the circumstances and provide the direction needed for renewed momentum.

4) Focus on Incremental Progress

As the organization begins to rebound, there can be a tendency to want to recover everything at once. Avoid frustration and focus on one win at a time. You won’t recover overnight—but if you stay the course and continue making steady progress, day by day, you will eventually become whole again.

Organizational uncertainty is part of life. How we respond is up to us. Successful teams overcome adversity and stay united. They rebound faster and remain committed to the long-term vision. If you can focus on your job, stay true to the mission, empathize with your teammates while keeping each other accountable, and commit to incremental progress, you will demonstrate the resilience and fortitude to weather any storm.