I wish I could say I came up with these principles and then immediately lived them out, but it wouldn’t be true. Unfortunately, I learned them the hard way during the Coronavirus COVID-19 quarantine. Fortunately, my wife and I are still together (praise God for commitment) and we came out on the other side with some areas of growth that we weren’t expecting. This minor marriage challenge taught me some principles for leadership in uncertain times.

Leadership in Uncertain Times – Some Hard Lessons

Principle #1: Personally Prioritize Reason Over Emotion

An ability to maintain a clear mind in the midst of struggle is a key characteristic of a great leader (i.e. a military leader in the chaos of war.)  To make the right decisions in the midst of chaos requires a disciplined mind not influenced by irrational emotions. Great leaders have the ability to master their emotions in order to lead their followers toward rational decisions.

Principle #2: Relationally Prioritize Emotion Over Reason

A leader maintaining a clear mind in order to make right decisions must nurture his followers emotionally in order to get them to a place where they can, in turn, think clearly.

I learned a few years ago that the mind cannot think and emote simultaneously. This was a huge win for me in parenting. I learned that if one of my kids was in  an emotional meltdown, I could de-escalate them by asking  them to solve a problem – even  something  as simple as a math equation. That would immediately force them out of their emotional state.

Great leaders start by meeting the emotional needs of their followers before requiring them to think reasonably. Relating to your folks in this way will support your leadership in uncertain times.

Principle #3: Choose Your Battles Well

You’ve heard it before, and it’s super relevant to this discussion. All battles do not have equal spoils. In other words, you have to choose the battles that will most effectively and efficiently benefit the most people with the best results. Sometimes it’s even wisest to surrender in order to avoid a “nobody wins” scenario. 

Principle #4: Integrity is to Confess Your Failures – Do it Quickly

Integrity (noun) – adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

To be honest is to admit your screw-ups and your struggles with overcoming your unhealthy patterns. That is SO HARD for me to do. I’m fine with admitting my screw-ups, there’s a bunch of them. I just struggle with how to communicate that in a way that is repentant and expresses my sorrow for how I behaved.

Principle #5: Follow Early So You Can Lead When the Time is Right

There is a time to lead and a time to follow – times when you have to choose to provide for others’ security by listening and submitting in order to have the credibility you need when it’s time to lead the charge. We must invest in and earn our leadership of those around us.

Principle #6: Steward the Whole Experience

Times of instability and uncertainty are times that are ripe for growth. They push us to the limit of (and sometimes beyond) what we think we can do. Muscle building happens when we stretch and break down our muscles. Emotional and spiritual growth happens when we stretch our comfort zone and faith. Leadership in uncertain times is leveraging the discomfort for growth. 

Principle #7: Focus Others on What You Have, Not What You Lack

In times of instability and uncertainty,  we often lack what we usually have in abundance. That includes money, security, clarity, vision, and sometimes even food or other physical resources (uh… toilet paper for example.)  One of the best ways to counterbalance that lack is to focus those around you on what you have been given. Remind those around you what is most important. Remind them that everything is going to be OK. Remind them that God has never failed you and there’s no reason to believe He will start failing you now. In Viktor Frankel’s ridiculously amazing book, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” he notes that as he watched hundreds of men live and die in the Nazi concentration camps, he realized that those who survived were the ones who noticed things as small as a little flower just outside the boundary fence of the camp.

Principle #8: Provide Relational Stability in the Midst of Social Instability

In times of uncertainty, sometimes it feels like all we have is each other. It is important to work hard to communicate the stability of your relationship with others. Reinforce your commitment and love and let them know that if every other security fades away, your love and commitment to them will endure.

Bonus Principle: When All Else is Questionable Stick with Your Core Personal Values

Something that never changes, no matter what is going on around you is core personal values and your personal life mission! When the going gets tough, turn to what got you there to start with. Cling to the things that matter and trust the people who got you there.

What has been your biggest challenge leading through uncertain times?

Thanks to Brett Sayles from Pexels for the cover photo!