STEWARDSHIP DURING UNCERTAIN TIMES

 

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

An astute leader equipped to steward uncertain times / Photo Courtesy / Cesar O'neill

Understand Before You Execute

Turbulent times are not for the nervous people. This period is not for the faint-hearted. Uncertain times are really uncertain. During this time. People are not sure what to do. Uncertain times are not straight-forward. This is not a time when you wake up in the morning. And you know what to do next. Things are unclear. It is a period where almost everything is doing very poorly. But you don’t have a readily available answer. Because this is not your typical moment. Uncertain times are special moments. This unique period comes to test you. question you. And at the same time. Expose you. This is a time when nothing holds. And nothing works. Yet, you are a seasoned professional. So imagine if you are the nervous one. How many panic attacks will you sustain? How many times will you fall?   

Uncertain times introduce unique problems, which in most occasions. Are more advanced than what you have every dealt with before. This in fact, is the main characteristic of a turbulent period. Problems are unique and complex. In most occasion. These complex problems call for change of strategy. A good leader catches the worm early. A good steward must not be in a rush. Things are uncertain for a reason. Pause and come to terms with that uncertainty. Recognize that you have a special moment in front of you. Moments like these ask you to slow down. You slow down to understand the uncertainties.  You study their cause and source. You note mistakes made. The people involved in the mistakes. And the intention of the turbulent time. You need to know what is leaking. And how dangerous is it.    

A period like this is a leadership moment. Things are not usual. So you don’t approach things in uncertain[p1]  times normally. Problems during a turbulent time are usually chronic. And this means that whatever worked before. Might not be what this season needs. A good leader must know that. If there is a time when a leader needs to proceed with caution. It is during uncertain moments. Because one poor decision might ruin everything. Carefulness is needed. Clarity is needed. Not fear. This moment calls for a big shift in your thinking process. The moment calls for total overhaul of existing strategies, techniques, and application of those strategies. Making such complex decisions at a time when you might lose everything requires courage. A leader only makes a decision after dissecting all the uncertainties and their associated risks.

Uncertain times Are Complex

Highly strategic colleagues dissecting uncertain times / Photo/ Kindel Media

It is only after understanding what is going on that a leader decides what to do. Getting to this level calls for patience. A good leader must give him or herself grace. And accept that things are complex. And he or she does not know what to do. Admitting the complexity of a turbulent time is a good marker of progress. It means a business leader or an owner has contextualized the situation. And he or she has realized that. This is not a normal situation. Uncertain times are not normal. Because they shake you to the core. Just imagine a profitable venture losing its core business. And suddenly, a business that has never struggled before. Begins to struggle. A reality like this breaks people. A sudden shift like this. Makes people lose their mind. Uncertain times are not seasons to play with.     

Because changes occur faster than solutions. A stormy moment creates a fertile environment for you to lose yourself. Dealing with an advanced problem without the right tools in front of you. Creates a fool out of you. That is why you need to be the right person for the problem. Many people call themselves leaders. However, a stormy season reveals true leaders. Ones that listen. And ones that learn. Leaders that listen and learn. Innovate. These are the ones who understand what such moments require. Precarious times do not call for prowess from a leader. Instead, turbulent times call for leadership and understanding. The person in charge of an enterprise must notice the shift that is taking place. And match that shift with the right approach. Moments like this need leadership as the pace during this time is one step after the other.

It is only a good keen leader that catches the exact demands of an uncertain times. The qualities of uncertain times ask a leader to understand that things have changed. And as a result. A solution, which will effectively fix the uncertainties is not in the normal business principles or best practices. Someone needs to step outside the box. You need to think critically. And at certain times. Someone needs to humble themselves. And walk on the unlikely path. A path where the person in charge is not fit for the problem. And this means asking for help elsewhere. Or tapping another person who is more experienced in the problem than you. It takes courage to admit that you don’t know something. Good leaders know their limits.

It wasn’t About Your Dignity

A charismatic leader thinking outside the box / Photo / Danilyuk Pavel 

And a good leader surrenders. When someone realizes that they ran out of ideas. They don’t continue occupying space. Instead, they seek strategic partnerships with the right people. As the next obvious step to rescue a sinking ship. That part of surrender is where many leaders lose the battle. Petty egos, pride, and arrogance begin to manifest themselves. Instead of a leader staying focused.  A foolish one shifts the focus from the problem to him/herself. And that is when perception comes into the picture. How will I be perceived by other people? I have been leading very successful operations for a long time. What will people think of me. When I tell them I don’t know what to do? Questions like these. Make people panic.

A weak leader makes poor decisions to preserve his dignity. Yet, that is not what the matter at hand needed. Uncertain times do not require pride. Uncertain times calls for submission. Once a leader fully understands the situation and notices that risks are more advanced. A quick decision should follow. The decision should inform the direction the business needs to take. If at all anything must be rescued. And sometimes. Getting out of the way is the best strategy for recovery. Uncertain times need leadership not panic. Stewarding a precarious moment is more about mental posture than physical strategies. A good leader wins the battle of restoration in the mind. He or she must believe in his decisions even if it means lowering personal dignity. Thinking outside the box is not a weakness. Seeking help from more experienced people is not inadequacy.         

When you do that. It means you understand what is at stake. Leadership is hard. Making the right decision sometimes means not pleasing everyone. Stewarding a complex project means moving strategically. And at the same time. Being keen enough to open up yourself to walk on unlikely paths. Arriving at such decisions is not a relegation. It only shows that you are a sensitive person. One who knows the types of burdens to carry. And which ones to delegate. It is all leadership. Don’t be ashamed that you surrendered to someone else. Surrendering is what the chronic problem called for. And you were kind enough to realize that. You were not the right fit for the problem. That is a mark of maturity not shame. You don’t have to be a star leader all the time. You don’t have to be at the center of everything for them to get done.

Lead in the Moment

A strategic partnership born in uncertain times / Photo Courtesy / Yan Krukau

Sometimes. Getting out of the way is the best solution for the moment. Uncertain times calls for awareness of what you can do. And what you cannot do. And the mere fact that you recognized that and stepped out of the way. Speaks of a high-quality leader you are. You are not afraid of tough times. You can face them head on. And detect what they need. A good steward must play a detective. A thief does not hide in plain sight. That is another characteristic of uncertain moments. Problems are usually hidden. So you have to work hard to establish where they are hidden. Uncertain times come with intimidation to knock you out of the way. But getting to clarity asks a leader to stand the longest.

Because the more you linger there. The more you get closer to the problem. The chronic in a turbulent time is solved by innovative thinking. You don’t bring an old mindset to a new problem. That is exactly what the new problems in the uncertain times call true leaders to do. To wear their best leadership boots. And diagnose the uncertainties until they reveal their true nature. You don’t get here through petty ego. You solve a problem by bringing pure leadership not pride.  Stewarding uncertain times reveals a true measure of a person.

Emotional people make emotional decisions and lose. While objective people look the problem in the eye. And match it with an objective mature solution. Uncertain times are an adult table. And only true adults survive. Decisions are hard. Solutions are rare. And loss is common. Be the leader for the moment. Understand before you execute. Be sensitive. Win in the mind first. This is a total different ball game altogether.      

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