Leading well in a complex environment requires more than adding new skills. To grow your capacity in uncertain moments, you need to unlearn the habits that limit how you show up. Start with these three shifts.
Unlearn the urge to find quick fixes; learn to pause. Let go of the belief that speed equals strength. When tension surfaces, name what you notice—then stop talking. Hold the silence for a full minute. Ask yourself whose voice is missing and what fear may be shaping the room. Signal that unresolved issues deserve attention before action.
Unlearn superficial reassurance; learn to name the difficulty. Resist calming the room too quickly. Instead, state clearly what feels heavy or frustrating. Turn private worries into shared material for discussion. Invite each person to name what they’re carrying so the team can think together.
Unlearn carrying burdens alone; learn to share the weight. Stop absorbing pressure to prove your value. Ask others what signals they’re seeing and what feels most at risk. Make uncertainty a collective responsibility rather than an individual one. |
