Managing People in a Time of Uncertain Change

In times of uncertain change, like Covid or heated political divisiveness,  the role of good, fair and qualified leadership in managing people becomes more critical than ever. Leaders must navigate ambiguity while maintaining transparency, fairness, and thoughtful decision-making. Being transparent with teams about the challenges ahead is crucial in building trust and fostering a sense of security, even when the future is unclear.

Transparency & Communication

Open communication helps alleviate anxiety and ensures that employees feel informed, reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings and confusion. It allows leaders to set realistic expectations and provide clarity on evolving goals, making uncertainty more manageable for everyone involved.

Fairness becomes equally essential during periods of upheaval. As organizations make tough decisions, such as restructuring or reducing costs, ensuring that these decisions are made with equity and transparency in mind helps to preserve morale. It's vital to apply consistent standards and avoid favoritism, which can easily undermine trust. Furthermore, a thoughtful approach to hiring, even in turbulent times, is necessary. Hiring in a measured way with the same governance and due diligence as in stable times ensures that the right talent is brought in, and rash decisions that could harm the company's long-term strategy are avoided.

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion should remain at the forefront of decision-making, especially during uncertain times. Organizations must continue to focus on hiring diverse talent to ensure a workforce that mirrors their broad and varied customer base. A diverse team brings in multiple perspectives, fostering innovation and improving the ability to serve a global customer base with high expectations. By ensuring fairness in recruitment and promoting diversity, companies can navigate change more effectively, staying resilient and responsive to shifting market demands.

Managing people during uncertain change requires transparency, fairness, measured hiring, and a strong commitment to diversity. These principles not only help maintain trust but also position organizations to adapt successfully in a rapidly changing environment. Leaders who embrace these values will foster resilience and guide their teams toward long-term success.

Hiring & Fostering a Team Ethic

When hiring during times of uncertainty, it’s crucial to avoid bringing on individuals who prioritize their personal agendas over the organization's collective success. Leaders or employees who seek to bulldoze their own agenda within the company can quickly derail business objectives. These individuals often focus on consolidating power, rather than contributing to the broader goals of the organization. This short-sighted approach can lead to departmental silos, hinder collaboration, and create internal competition that detracts from the company's ability to respond to external challenges.

In times of uncertain change, a unified, cross-functional approach is necessary, and hiring people with divisive motives can undermine that cohesion.

In the long term, hiring for personal agendas can damage the organization's culture and ability to innovate. Individuals focused on self-serving goals may prioritize short-term wins over sustainable growth, leading to decisions that don’t align with the company’s broader vision.

Additionally, these "empire-builders" can alienate other employees, reducing morale and increasing turnover. A business with fractured internal dynamics is less likely to thrive in an uncertain environment, where agility, trust, and teamwork are paramount.

Therefore, maintaining rigorous hiring standards and focusing on candidates who are aligned with the company's mission, vision, and values is essential for long-term success.