Every day, I’m engaging with clients who are experiencing new levels of disruption and change. We all feel it. With my work as a leadership and strategy advisor, I continue to connect dots across industries and offer practical guidance for leaders as they navigate forward.
EY has framed the question of the day succinctly: “What if disruption isn’t the challenge, but the chance?” I encourage you to explore their thoughtful essay on leading in a NAVI world (one that is nonlinear, accelerated, volatile, and interdependent).
In that piece, they introduce the concept of finding “no regret moves” as you seek to plan and prepare in the context of uncertainty. This is a refreshingly positive way to look forward as leaders. It allows us to leverage our experience, hard-earned intuition, and intellect to create stability.
When leaders ask, “What can I do today that I’ll have no regrets about in the future?” a peace-inducing clarity emerges. Whether you’re strategizing for your family, team, or company, here are five moves that build lasting promise, hope, and opportunity, no matter what happens tomorrow:
Build reserves. Financially stable families and organizations weather storms better. Push your thinking to find new ways to save. Reduce expenses and shift your mindset to one that appreciates what you have instead of consistently seeking more.
Value your time. Your calendar is your life. Don’t give away minutes you can’t get back to activities that offer minimal return. Guard your time. The sooner you stop trying to fit everything in, and shift to doing less, better- the better off you’ll be. And, when the moment calls for max effort, you’ll have the energy and the space to do what’s needed.
Give support and attention. Distraction is everywhere. Be the leader who shows up with curiosity for others, holds the space to listen, and encourages and guides. Attention is a rare gift. If you can give it with abundance, not only will you enrich the lives of others, but you’ll also reap the rewards of authentic connection.
Commit to learning. Experience is great. Combine it with a willingness to be a beginner over and over again, and the impact is magical. Learn about what you love. Learn about what you dislike. Just keep learning and seeking to understand. You’ll never know it all, but the better you are at learning, the better outcomes you’ll shape.
Choose your change. Disruption is inevitable. One way to stay ahead of it is to choose where change is needed in your life. Strategy isn’t just for business. Pay attention to the direction of changes happening around you. Go with the grain and pick key areas where you can proactively do what’s needed differently.
The paradox of life and leadership is that all greatness requires heartbreak, difficulty, and failure. We don’t pick the era in which we lead, yet we can make moves that limit regrets. Challenging times provide lessons and strength for leaders who stay open and aware of the opportunities they create.
