Maintaining Perspective in Uncertain Times
“It’s going to be an interesting ride,” a client remarked as we caught up in early January.
Listening to their justification and then reflecting on what I’ve been hearing from other leaders, I have to say that I couldn’t agree more.
Now we’re firmly into 2025, it seems that high levels uncertainty – whether geopolitical, economic, or societal – are the continuing theme that we’re all having to live with. Through those same conversations, however, I’ve been struck by how many people are struggling to maintain perspective, instead feeling overwhelmed by the constant waves of change they’re having to deal with.
So how do you stay grounded and focused when the world around you feels turbulent? Here’s what’s worked for me and what I share with others.
1. Anchor to what you can control
One thing I often remind myself is to stop sweating what I can’t influence. Whether this be global events shaping the macro environment or even things closer to home, I continually challenge myself as to whether it is within my influence and control. And as someone who is deeply interested in global events, whilst I tend to continue to pay attention to those things outside of my control, I don’t let them distract me from that which I can directly influence.
2. Stay Curious
When confronted by a continual barrage of change and uncertainty, rather than let this overwhelm me, I try to stay curious. Whether through me proactively seeking to learn more about a particular topic or just force myself to consider “What’s the real opportunity here?”, I seek to understand rather than avoid. When I asked how my client who made the comment above was planning to navigate through the ‘interesting ride’, they said they stay religiously curious, taking time to properly learn about what’s happening around them, because through knowledge they can create options.
3. Embrace multiple horizons
It’s easy to get caught up in the short-term noise when the world around creates uncertainty. The risk of this is you spend your days reacting to events rather than considering how they might influence your medium- and longer-term plans. Learning from one of my early mentors, and as is core to good strategic planning, embracing multiple horizons means being clear on what you want to achieve over 10, 5, 2 and then 1 year. That is, what are your true long-, medium- and short-term goals or objectives? When you’re clear on these horizons you can then be more grounded in how you assess current issues.
4. Make time for reflection
In times of uncertainty, it is easy to get caught in a mindset where there is no free time. We leap from activity to activity, often letting our diaries rule us. Being deliberate about creating time for reflection involves making sure you consciously take time to apply your curiosity, to develop and then assess the effectiveness of your plans. Many leaders I’ve worked with use the calendar to support them with this. That is, they hold time for reflection at the end of each week, month, year and so on, where at specific moments they consciously consider what their plans are across the horizons, what’s going on around them that might impact these plans, and what options are available to them.
Staying focused
Ultimately, I believe perspective isn’t just about keeping your head above water – it’s about finding clarity amid the storm. By staying anchored, curious, and reflective, not only will you be able to manage uncertainty, but you can thrive in the process. And the truth is, when you live and lead with perspective, you inspire others to do the same.
If you would like some support contact Rob@purposefulleader.co