Clouds in the Sky are not Smoke in your Eyes

by Sherry Matteson, M.A.

Smoke in your eyes is disorienting and debilitating, to say the least. Whatever you were doing comes to a halt. With diminished vision comes uncertainty and the reaction to uncertainty is generally to stop action. A cloudy sky can have a similar effect in that we don’t know if a storm is coming or simply a quiet rain. The uncertainty of our economy is like clouds in the sky. Unclear, yes, but it is not smoke in your eyes.

Without knowing the decisions our government will make, which if known, might give us a sense of security in our own decision-making, our waiting and inaction becomes paralyzing. Motivating ourselves to try something new, or to get on with innovation seems tough when the rules of the game are up in the air. Uncertainty is one of the primary reasons that people resist change, and this resistance often leads to failure. However, the certainty we are looking for is not really all that certain, anyway. We must  move to adapt and create our own version of certainty. Part of its creation is designing our businesses to be flexible , constantly monitored and adjustable as we go. Have you created all that is necessary to do this in an impeccable way in every aspect of your company?

Its true that perfect clarity is not always possible, and leaders are not always in control of events and outcomes. However, this does not mean that all the action should stop. As a leader in business you can provide Certainty of Process. When the world at large is seemingly in chaos, you do not have to follow suit.

Excellent leaders will continue to:                                                                              

•  communicate                                   
•  invest in relationships                                                                                                  
•  improve                                                                                                                   
• remain true to principles                                                                                               
• forge new alliances

These actions can make the difference between getting stuck and emerging triumphantly. Providence steps in to help those who do not stray from their goal.

Clouds will eventually give way to clarity.

As a cloudy sky gives way to the sun once more and the wheels of commerce begin to turn more rapidly, how would you like to be positioned in your industry? What aspects of your company require development now?

• prof it performance and financial controls
• productivity and employee incentives
• customer loyalty and quality assurance
• leadership development and succession planning
• sales and marketing implementation
• technology systems

Now is the time to shore up your systems, policies and procedures for the future, regardless of what it holds. The only thing we can rely upon 100%, is Change.

How we weather change determines our success.