Have you ever been good at something, but struggled to perform it under pressure?
I took piano lessons growing up, and can play decently, but found recitals excruciating because my hands shake when I’m nervous. I can speak or sing under those circumstances, but playing the piano is rough. If someone judged my piano-playing ability only on recital day, they’d definitely slot me as a beginner.
Continue reading “Piano Recitals”Another part of leading well in uncertainty is to celebrate your wins.
Celebration is a ritual. Rituals are good for us. They steady us. They mark what matters. They strengthen our sense of belonging.
Rituals also focus our attention. Celebrating slows us down long enough to notice what’s gone well. (If you’re someone who, like me, tends to tick the thing — even the very big thing — off your to-do list and move on, this reminder is especially for you!)
Continue reading “Celebrate Every Win”In this next installment of leading well in uncertainty, I’m delighted to showcase the work of Steve Botterill. In his new book The Architecture of Hope, he uses a parable of an airport waiting lounge (one of my favourite and most familiar settings) to explore how hope shows up and how it’s led.
Continue reading “Hopeful Leadership”When we visit a doctor, often the first step in diagnosing an issue is to get the imaging. Xray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI — whatever they need to get reliable visibility on what is going on. Makes sense.
Our leadership is no different. Today’s tip to lead well in uncertainty is to “get the imaging.” You need reliable visibility of what is actually happening inside your organization.
Continue reading “Get the Imaging”In this second installment on leading well in uncertainty, I’m inviting you to consider your corporate culture. It might seem like a bit of a leap, but how it feels to work in your organization can powerfully strengthen people’s adaptability, or undermine it. Adaptability is what you most need to encourage in your people during turbulent times.
Continue reading “Set the Tone”