$treet $mart$ (vol. 29)

Leadership Insight

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Uncertainty is an inevitable part of life, and in the world of entrepreneurship, it can often feel like the only constant. As a leader, we not only face our own uncertainties but must also manage the fears and concerns of our team.

A wise mentor once told me that,

Which sounds really good.  But candidly those words have never helped me sleep at night.

When I am feeling uncertain or overwhelmed, I can have a tendency to wear it on my sleeve and as a result, it bleeds into my teams, unless of course, I am consciously managing those emotions.

It can be a lot of pressure, but when we decide to become entrepreneurs, we are deciding to be the thermostat, not the thermometer.    We have to set the temperature for our team.  

Easier Said Than Done...

Which simply means that the entire company is watching everything we do to determine how they should respond.  Like a child responding based on their parent's reaction, our team will respond to our energy.  

So how do we manage through the uncertainty, when our natural inclination is to reel for certainty?

Some of us: Drink alcohol, smoke, get angry, procrastinate, binge-watch Netflix, or triple down and work insane hours while expecting the same of everyone else.

Call it what you want to call it, these are coping mechanisms.  And the truth of the matter is coping with uncertainty is actually important. However, whether the mechanism is positive or negative is a different story.

Strategies for Leading Through Uncertainty

Here are some strategies and approaches that have worked for me over the years:

1. Mindset - Embrace Uncertainty as Normal.

Uncertainty arises from misaligned expectations. This means, there is a discrepancy in the way that you think it should work, verse the way that it is actually working. But the truth is "certainty" is a complete farce. Certainty is a made-up construct. Rather than shying away from it, accept that it's not right or wrong, good or bad, but rather it just is.....

2. Call for Candor

The more uncertain times become, the more you need to call for candor. It can feel very isolating when you are the only one trying to fix the problems.  But I have found that leveraging my team for insight on how to solve the problem is not only helpful but this healthy.  Attacking the problems is actually the best way to cope with uncertainty. Encourage your team members to express any worries or concerns they may have about the future, but only if they are willing to bring resourceful solutions to the table.

3. Make Decisions with Both Confidence and but live in Flexibility

Curiosity is the key to staying in a positive frame of mind. In fact, our brain function increases by 31% when we are in a positive frame of mind.   In other words, strong opinions held loosely are the key to navigating uncertainty.

Supplemental Learning: Watch This Video

Take Aways

• 1. Go after the things you want. You can do it your way, just don't prevent others from getting what they want.

• 2. Sometimes, you're the problem! Take responsibility for your actions.

• 3. Take care of each other. Accept help when you need it, and offer it when others do.

• 4. Be the last to speak. Keep your opinions to yourself, ask questions, why they think what they do

• 5. Remember humility and gratitude.

The truth is uncertainty is simply unanticipated change.  But, the quicker we can accept our new normal, the faster we can move through the change curve and pivot.  Because there is one fundamental truth we must never forget, "Adapt or Die"

Help your fellow entrepreneurs level up week by week, just like you. Forward this on to 3 friends you want to see thrive

Best,

Samson

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