Leadership is simple, not easy. This is one of our core beliefs at Building Champions because it concisely conveys that leading is more about hard work than complicated plans. And in times of uncertainty in business, it can feel like all of your energy is dedicated to keeping your team motivated and focused.

Although creating stability for your team is an important part of leading through uncertainty, there are more techniques that can help you be an effective leader in times of change. We understand the stress that uncertain times can bring to business, which is why we believe in coaching leaders to continually move toward success, despite adversity. 

And the first step starts with you.

Start with Self-Leadership

As a leader, you’re the cornerstone of your team. But the strength to hold that weight on your shoulders doesn’t come naturally. That’s why before you lead others, you must be effective at leading yourself.

At the heart of this is your personal well-being—physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual. Your good health allows you to lead others. Some of the world’s best leaders have regular workout routines and follow healthy diets because they understand that they can’t bring their best to the table if their body isn’t at peak performance. 

Attending your mental health makes you more consistent with your team members, which helps them feel confident in your decisions. Your emotional and spiritual endeavors can continually renew and refine your sense of purpose, which guides the vision for your team.

You should always strive to be level-headed in the face of uncertainty because your tone and attitude in times of crisis will set an example for your entire team. You want to establish confidence, but you can’t pass on something you don’t already possess. So before you go to your team, take the time to assess yourself. 

Ask yourself these questions:

• What are my initial thoughts and feelings about this situation?

• How are these thoughts and feelings impacting my perspective? 

• Is my perception of the situation accurate?

• How can I adapt to these new circumstances?

It’s important to remember that your initial reaction to change can color your perception of a situation. That’s why you should reserve decision making for after you’ve processed your personal thoughts and can consider the issue with a level head.

Don’t let uncertainty overwhelm you. Remember the values that ground you and lean into those for reassurance during turbulent times. Integrity will keep you honest, determination will keep you moving, and courage will see you through to the other side. Give yourself time to foster your own confidence before going to your team. Believing in your success is the first step to reassuring people and bringing them back to the purpose of your organization.

Plan for Now and for Later

It’s impossible to plan for every contingency, but that doesn’t mean you can let uncertainty eliminate planning altogether. When facing uncertainty, whether in the economy or in your industry, it’s important to remain agile. To do this, you can use a combination of short-term and long-term planning.

Short-term goals are a great way to guide people through difficult times. These goals should address the immediate needs of your company. They give your team something to set their sights on and will empower them when achieved. Shorter time frames also mean you’re more likely to accomplish these goals, even in a shifting landscape. 

Although your immediate needs are important, don’t forget your overall strategic plan. Effective leadership and crisis management are both about looking beyond the problem to the solution. Utilize your short-term goals to continue moving your team through the steps of a long-term plan. Don’t be discouraged if timelines need to be adjusted or contingencies implemented. As long as you’re taking steps toward the overall goal, you’re moving in the right direction.

Creating plans helps to bolster your team’s spirit and give you benchmarks to measure progress when your normal operations are in flux. The most important part of getting everyone on board with these initiatives is how you communicate them.

Communicate

Our leadership coaches and executive mentors have been in your shoes. We’ve been on the conference calls, in the meeting rooms, at the table with stakeholders and senior executives while everyone wonders “What’s next?” It’s easy to get caught up in the big picture when you answer to people at the top, but you can’t forget the people you represent.

The easiest way to build trust with your team is to simply communicate. As decisions are made or new directions decided on, personally relay that information to your teams. Be as clear and transparent as you can so they have enough information to ease their worries. Approach the conversations with confidence in your company and positivity for your staff. 

Most importantly, communicate often. Especially in times of uncertainty, people are always waiting for the next update or piece of information to help them gauge their personal situation. People might be scared for their jobs or worried about the company’s health. Give them updates as often as possible so they feel safe and confident about the future. 

Have Empathy

Uncertainty doesn’t just affect your business, it also affects your people. Part of leading a team through great change is understanding that they might need a little more give and take as they adjust their lives to a new normal. That’s why empathy is a critical leadership skill.

Remember that empathizing with others is all about listening. People often want to feel heard more than anything, so make yourself available to them. Ask good questions to learn what it’s like to spend a day in their shoes and guide them to clarify what’s making them anxious. This will help you to address the heart of their worries and show you care about their personal well-being.

To create opportunities for active listening and problem solving, increase personal connection points with your team members. Stop by their desk and ask how their day is going. Join them in the company cafeteria for lunch. Create office hours where they can stop by your desk to talk through their concerns. As you listen with care and let people know they can always come to you, you’ll also create peace of mind within your team.

Keep Looking Ahead

It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day landscape as you try to navigate shifting circumstances with varying levels of uncertainty. But as the leader, it’s your job to keep your eyes on the horizon. The key to success in uncertainty is to understand your current reality and create a long-term vision.

Your vision helps you take stock of the current situation and identify new opportunities that can come from it. It’s your idea of how you can redefine the status quo in your favor. Most importantly, your vision reminds people who your company is and where you’re all going together. It’s a plan they can cling to in times of uncertainty and aspire to in times of stability.

During seasons of prolonged uncertainty and change, you must focus on what you can control and influence while acknowledging there are some things you just have to accept. As leaders, you can create your short-term game plan and then look ahead to what you want from the future. This allows you to better strategize ways to address uncertainty, capitalize on change, and have your team come out even better on the other side.

At Building Champions, our leadership coaches and executive mentors know what it’s like to lead during uncertain times. That’s why we’re here to help you lead your company to success, even when you’re unsure of what the future holds. Contact us today to learn how leadership coaching and mentoring can help you lead through uncertainty.