Will Trump derail the economy? perhaps. Will Trump create a golden age for American manufacturing? perhaps. Will we fall into a recession? perhaps. Will your business flourish despite the headwinds? Again, maybe.
If it all sounds like Buddhism, apologise. But “maybe” might be the real thing we can say about the current wild moment. Without a doubt, there is a lot of the volatility and uncertainty that is currently brought about by Magazine Washington, which has left many people nervous.
It's a good moment to remember what you know (and perhaps more than once): In all times of radical change, some companies are in a stronger, more agile and better position than before. You don't have to beat the entire economy to win. Just defeat your rival.
Leadership is different. So here are some ideas for uncertainty to flourish. Cribbed from the CEO community over the years and some of the best minds in the business (Ram Charan, Jim Collins, Patrick Lencioni, Fred Reichel, Marshall Goldsmith, Verne Harnish, Adam Echter, and more). You already know all this, but remembering it doesn't hurt:
A wealth of ideas. As bestselling author Stephen Coby pointed out for future interviews, this world contains a lot of everything we need to thrive.
Control what you can control. Are you obsessed with the news? Ask yourself: is it helping you to lead, or is it just exciting/habitual? Monitor media consumption, monitor consumption of senior teams, and focus on transaction data that directly impacts.
Refocus on the customer. If things are Topsitter Bee, it is grounded to remind people that all the points of this effort are customers. Without them, there is no business. Don't let your operational heartbeat own it.
Build energy and urgency. We'll bring together the war room. It notifies you of acceleration of the rhythm. Spend time on the calendar, devote your physical space, bring together HR, finance, purchases, sales and operations, pushing them to not only drill holes for anyone else but also find opportunities.
Pricing flexibility = profit. This is essential. Inflation is likely to rise, and tariffs present profitability opportunities, even the threat of tariffs, if they can be agile and smart about adjustments. Please make sure you can.
Leave your office. Bunker hangers are not a winning strategy. Do not delegate listening and connections. Get on the phone and get on the plane. It appears for customers, suppliers, trade groups, lawmakers, regulators, and industry meetings. Learn tons, grow your network, win the goodwill of the bank, and become smarter while your rivals are at home.
Create Esprit de Corps. Some people, some teams, get better as the pace accelerates and the challenges grow. You know who they are. Give them the ball and run. Their energy is contagious.
ull. Inertia thrives in good times. This is the moment when you revisit projects, people, ideas that are likely lacking the energy and discipline to delve into the blue sky weather. Then make some choices. Focus.
Don't sacrifice the future. Where not to cut? Automation, R&D, AI pilot, digital transformation, training, and more. I want to be stronger while others become weaker.
I'll revisit comp. It was hard to have a tough conversation here for a while. What builds the real value of your company, and who builds what.
Map opportunities. The company you really like, salespeople may be able to take advantage of the customers you wanted, that your salespeople are competing and that you are the ones you wanted. Ask the people on the frontline for their ideas. Reach out to your rivals. You never know who is ready to deal with it.
And finally, communication, communication, communication. No matter where you think this is happening, it can't be argued that there are many changes happening at once, regardless of your political affiliation or what your team is about. My favorite quote about CEO work at such a moment comes from Greg Brennemann, who looks back at Continental Air. And prepare for the opportunity.
That's what: While your rivals are playing handkerchief and bunker, join three extraordinary new programs tailored to help you win position in the coming months:
