4 key tenets for leading through ambiguity

When one thinks of leadership, words like “strong,” “visionary,” “decisive,” “confident” and “success” come to mind.

However, leading is more art than science as it entails both an intellectual and emotional component to sustain interest and direct behavior. As the pandemic unfolded, a whole new model of leadership came into view—one that placed a different set of characteristics at the forefront.

Among the words leaders are learning to focus on now:

1. Empathy – engaging with people on a human level

2. Listening – avoid being insulated from emerging issues

3. Agility – pivoting quickly as circumstances dictate

4. Flexibility – considering multiple options

5. Interpretation – assessing the present and shaping the future

6. Collaborative judgment – fluid decision-making encompassing multiple inputs

7. Communications – frequent, clear, concise, and contextual

8. Mentorship – assisting people at different levels of the organization to develop further