Leadership Reflection: How to Stay Grounded in Uncertain Times

Hi leaders,

I’ve been reflecting on how many unknowns there are in the world. At times, having so much unknown can be anxiety-inducing, but lately it’s been giving me hope. Maybe it’s just springtime and the sunshine is making me optimistic, but there’s a lot of possible good in the world and in people, even as things seem unstable.

Some of this optimism comes from a book I recently learned about called Hope In The Dark by Rebecca Solnit (which I have to admit I haven’t gotten around to reading quite yet). The histories in the book are premised on the idea that unpredictability doesn’t just lead to bad things happening but also good things. We can cause a lot more good than we realize when we move toward what’s right.

This leads to my question for the month:

What are your big beliefs?

Whether it’s that nature is the supreme guide, or that people deserve respect, or systems can always be made more efficient–knowing and articulating the leadership beliefs one operates under helps us to know how to act in uncertain times. It’s impossible to always make the perfect choice, but, even if we make a “wrong” one, we are at least acting honestly and hopefully stumbling toward a world that’s better. 

Happy to be leading with you,

Ashlee