How to Lead in Times of Uncertainty

Well, who would have thought that 2020 did not bring prosperity and hope to all?  Nobody could have guessed that at the time of this writing that most of the world, including the United States would be fighting a losing battle with Covid-19?  I’m not going to depress you further with a list of all the major changes, except to say that there is a ton of uncertainty.  For every single human on this planet.  If you are The Boss or an HR professional, you have a position in your organization that requires you to take charge.  In tough times, people are looking for someone to lead them.

Why can’t it be you?

It should, in fact, be you!

With that in mind, I’d like to offer you five strategies to be an inspirational and effective leader in tough times.  Like the ones we’re in right now.

• Step #1:  Get Your Mind Right.  My high school football coach used to yell this phrase at us any time we made mental mistakes.  In his mind, we were distracted.  Distracted minds make poor decisions.  Now is not the time to make poor decisions.  Own your anxiety and deal with it before attempting to help others.  Sort of like the line we use on the HR Oxygen podcast.  Make sure your own oxygen mask is in place before assisting others.
• Step #2:  Put on your Normal Face.  I borrowed this term from one of my favorite podcasters, Jocko Willink.  Basically, you’re going to put on a look of certainty and confidence in spite of all the bad news out there.  Again, using the airline analogy, flight attendants are trained to keep a neutral or happy expression on their face, knowing that nervous passengers look to them for guidance.  Your normal face should be neutral, not a scowl or a fake smile.  It’s your level-set default.  Practice.  In a mirror.  Then be aware when you need to use it.  If you as the leader look confident, your followers will be less anxious
• Step #3:  Stay Informed.  Know what’s going on and be mindful of which information is legitimate.  You may have noticed that the media tends to be biased to one side or the other.  MSN and CNN are left-leaning while FOX leans right.  Your best bet, to get unbiased facts, not opinions, is to look to sources like Reuters, USA-Today, or even some foreign sources like the BBC.  Again, FACTS from credible sources (think Dr. Fauci) are your most reliable tools to stay informed.
• Step #4:  Be Proactive.  Proactive means that you’re not going to wait for something to happen in order to take action.  If something needs to be done, DO IT!  Find out fact and communicate them, even if it’s bad news.  I heard a doctor on a podcast talk about how he is often told not to  communicate bad news so as not to panic people.  He responded that it’s as irresponsible as telling beachgoers in Florida to enjoy themselves if you know that a hurricane will hit them in 24 hours.  Be proactive
• Step #5:  Communicate Incessantly. Remember, in the absence of information, people will fill in the gaps with what they think they know.  And it’s almost always something negative, bad, or catastrophic.  You can’t afford this.  Be sure to be open, honest, and detailed with what you KNOW for a fact.  Bad and good.  Hopefully you’ve already built in a relationship of trust but if not, how you handle the Covid-19 crisis will either make or break you.  Keep the channels open.

I hope we can all look back on this post in a year with a sense of relief and hope in the current reality.  Either way, how you handle the problems of today will define your leadership for a lifetime. 

How do you want to be remembered?