Leading Without a Map: How to Show Up When Certainty Disappears
In uncertain economic times, many leaders feel a powerful urge to act quickly, tighten control, skip over emotion, and push forward at all costs. But what actually drives performance in ambiguity isn’t urgency. It’s presence, clarity, and conviction.
When outcomes are unclear and business conditions keep shifting, people don’t need a perfect plan. They need a grounded leader. Someone who can say: “We may not know everything, but here’s what we do know, here’s where we’re headed, and we’ll let you know when we know more.”
Anchor in Values, Not Just Strategy
At Incito, we’ve seen this play out with clients across industries, from solar and construction to professional services. The leaders who navigate uncertainty most effectively are the ones who lead from identity and values, not just role or strategy.
We worked with one executive team in the middle of a major transformation. No one knew what the org chart would look like in six months, not even the managing director. But instead of waiting for clarity to emerge, they created it. They stopped thinking of themselves as “general managers” and started showing up as change agents. They led from purpose and identity, not from title.
In times of upheaval, these grounding elements matter more than ever. When guarantees disappear, vision becomes a stabilizer. Identity becomes a compass. Values become a filter for hard decisions.
Say What’s Real, But Give Direction
One of the most common questions we hear from leaders is: “How do I communicate transparently without making things worse?”
Here’s a model we often share:
What: What’s happening? (Be clear and direct.)
So what: What does it mean for us? What does it mean for you?
Now what: What can we count on? What’s next?
It’s not about having every answer. It’s about offering direction. Even if that direction is simply: “We’ll share updates weekly. We’ll continue to act in line with our values. And we’ll pivot if needed, but for now, here’s the plan.”
People can handle hard news. What fuels anxiety isn’t the news itself; it’s not knowing what’s next.
Emotions Aren’t a Distraction. They’re a Catalyst.
In one recent session with a client team, we invited the group to pause and name the emotions they’d been carrying. What emerged wasn’t chaos. It was connection, creativity, and a renewed commitment to act with intention.
It might feel counterintuitive in a results-driven environment, but acknowledging emotion actually fuels forward movement. When people feel seen, they show up. When leaders make space for what’s human, they build trust, and trust enables action.
We saw this in another client team facing an existential threat to their organization. Their opening line to employees?
“We’re mad. We’re sad. We’re enraged. And we’re more determined than ever to keep our dream alive.”
That message became the cornerstone of their strategy. And it worked – not because they minimized emotion, but because they honored it.
Uncertainty Calls for Identity-Rooted Leadership
In complex environments, the strongest leadership doesn’t come from certainty. It comes from who you are.
The leaders we admire most are the ones who lead with clarity even when the path is foggy. They focus on what they can control. They offer a consistent presence. And they ground every decision in identity, vision, and values.
It’s not always easy. But it’s how trust is built, change is driven, and strategy becomes reality, even when the map is unclear.