Leadership in the Storm: A Business Note* for the Bold and the Curious

The world’s on fire, and leadership isn’t a job—it’s a dare. A daily, defiant choice to show up, stand out, and steer through the chaos. The old playbook? Burned. The new normal? It’s a myth. We’re in a relentless churn of change, and the leaders who thrive don’t cling to comfort zones or corner offices. They embrace the mess, ignite their teams, and paint the future with bold strokes.

This isn’t a dusty business report to file away. It’s a spark. A challenge. A blueprint for mastering the art of leading, growing, and inspiring people in turbulent times. We’re channelling the wisdom for slicing through nonsense and the genius for flipping perspectives. Here’s the journey we’re taking:

• Personal Leadership Qualities: The inner fire that fuels everything else.

• Organisational Strategy: The vision that turns dreams into reality.

• Team Dynamics: The alchemy of turning people into a movement.

• Forward-Looking Perspective: The mindset that makes chaos your canvas.

It all starts with you. 

The world doesn’t need more bystanders—it needs you. Lead boldly, love fiercely, and transform everything. The time to act is this very moment.

Let’s dive in.

Personal Leadership Qualities: Lead Yourself, Then the World

Leadership begins in the mirror. You can’t guide others if you’re lost yourself. But here’s the twist: it’s not about staying lost in your own reflection.

You’ve got to conquer your own doubts, sharpen your skills, and build a core of resilience before you can rally anyone else. Think of it as your personal boot camp. Master your craft. Tame your fears. Build the grit to keep going when the world feels like it’s crumbling. That’s your foundation. But if you stop there, you’re just a solo act, not a leader.

Seth Godin would put it bluntly: “Stop obsessing over yourself. Leadership is about them.” Being self-focused might earn you a pat on the back, but being people-focused builds a legacy. Your team isn’t a machine to be managed—they’re the soul of your mission. Their victories are your victories. Their passion is your power.

But talk is cheap. You can’t preach integrity and then cut corners. You can’t champion empathy while ignoring your team’s exhaustion. Your values and your actions need to be inseparable. If you say courage matters, make the tough call. If you claim to care, show it in the small moments—listening, supporting, being present. Anything less, and you’re just noise.

Showing up is half the game. Leadership isn’t a sprint; it’s a gruelling ultramarathon. You’ll face economic quakes, tech tsunamis, and global plot twists. Can you deliver when the stakes are sky-high? Your mindset decides. A rigid mind cracks under pressure. A flexible one bends, adapts, and thrives. Edward de Bono’s lateral thinking is your secret weapon here: don’t just tackle problems—redefine them. A setback isn’t a dead end; it’s a chance to find a better path.

Showing up is half the game

Empathy is your superpower. Feel what your team feels. See the world through their eyes. When they’re burned out, you’re the one who reignites their spark. When they’re uncertain, you offer clarity and hope—not with empty promises, but with authentic presence. Picture a leader who steps into a tense meeting, listens deeply, and says, “I see you. We’ll figure this out together.” That’s the kind of confidence that moves mountains.

Stop hiding in your own shadow. Master your fears, ignite your heart, and lead with a fire that others can’t ignore. Start now—your legacy won’t wait.

Ask yourself: Are you leading with logic, heart, or both? The greats don’t choose. They’re analytical yet compassionate, disciplined yet human. They know leadership is personal, but it’s never just about them. Build that core, and you’re ready to build something bigger.

Organisational Strategy: Vision Is Your North Star

Step back. You’re not just a leader—you’re a navigator. Your organisation is a ship navigating stormy seas. Without a clear vision, you’re adrift. With one, you’re unstoppable.

Every business needs a vivid picture of where it’s headed—not just for today, but for the uncharted “next normal” and beyond. This isn’t about a catchy slogan or a vague mission statement. It’s about a promise. A story that answers: What change are we here to make? Seth Godin would push you: “What’s the difference you’re creating in the world?” If you can’t answer that, your team won’t know why they’re showing up.

Vision without focus, though, is just a pretty daydream. You can’t chase every shiny idea. The best leaders zero in on three critical priorities—three bold, high-impact goals that move the needle. Imagine a tech startup deciding to: 

1) streamline their core product, 

2) double down on customer trust, and 

3) pioneer one game-changing feature. 

That’s focus. It’s not about doing less; it’s about doing what matters most. Saying no to distractions frees you to say yes to transformation.

A vision isn’t a dream—it’s a dare. Paint a future so vivid it pulls everyone forward, and act like the world depends on it. Because it does.

Now, face the big questions: What’s our business, really? What’s our response to the world’s chaos? What’s our strategy? What game are we playing? These aren’t abstract—they’re make-or-break. Are you just another player in the market, or are you rewriting the rules? Take a retail chain hit by e-commerce: playing safe means cutting costs and limping along. Playing bold means reimagining stores as experience hubs. Which game are you in?

Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats can sharpen your strategy. Put on the white hat: What does the data say? Red hat: What’s your instinct screaming? Black hat: Where could this fail? Yellow hat: What’s the big win? Green hat: How can we innovate? Blue hat: Are we staying focused? Run your plans through this filter, and they’ll emerge battle-ready.

Six Thinking Hats – Achieving Strategic Clarity

Here’s the truth: strategy isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it deal. It’s alive, evolving with every market shift or customer demand. Test it. Refine it. Scrap it if it’s not working. Leaders don’t hide in boardrooms, crafting perfect plans—they’re out in the fray, adapting and acting. Get your hands dirty. Shape the future.

Team Dynamics: People Are Your Purpose

Your team isn’t here to make you look good. You’re here to make them unstoppable. Flip the hierarchy.

When your people thrive, your organisation soars. It’s not about managing them—it’s about fueling them. Give them real opportunities, not just tasks. Let them own projects that matter. Seth Godin’s mantra fits here: create work that’s worth doing. A marketing team tasked with crafting a campaign that sparks a movement isn’t just working—they’re creating. Hand them the freedom to shine, not a script to follow.

Ownership is the glue. When your team feels responsible for outcomes—not just clocking hours—they step up. They innovate. They care. And when things don’t go as planned? Don’t point fingers. Face the results head-on, learn fast, and keep moving. De Bono’s water logic applies: don’t fight the current—see where it leads. A failed product launch isn’t a disaster; it’s a lesson in what customers really want.

But don’t settle for the minimum. Great leaders go beyond what’s expected. Surprise your team with support when they’re struggling. Celebrate their wins like they’re your own. Care about everyone—not just the rock stars, but the quiet contributors, the ones learning the ropes. Imagine a manager who notices a shy intern’s potential, gives them a stretch project, and coaches them through it. That’s leadership that changes lives.

Your team isn’t your tool—they’re your revolution. Empower them to soar, care like it’s personal, and watch them rewrite what’s possible. Get to it.

This is how you build a tribe, in Godin’s words—a group bound by purpose, not paychecks. Trust is the currency. Listen to your team. See them as humans, not headcounts. When they feel valued, they’ll pour their hearts into the work. When they don’t, they’ll walk. A 2024 study showed 70% of employees leave due to lack of appreciation. Don’t be that statistic.

Forward-Looking Perspective: Embrace the Unknown

The future’s a fog, and that’s not a flaw—it’s your opportunity.

Turbulent times aren’t a curse; they’re a stage. The leaders who shine don’t wait for stability—they thrive in the storm. They see uncertainty as a chance to innovate, to lead, to make a mark. Stop wishing for calm. The chaos is where history gets written.

Leadership is a choice, not a title. You don’t need a corner office to make a difference—just courage. Every decision, every action should point toward a goal. But don’t get stuck in the details. Great leaders anchor to a higher purpose. Profit keeps the lights on, but purpose lights up the world. What’s the legacy you’re chasing?

Chaos isn’t your enemy—it’s your stage. Step into the fog, shape the future, and lead with courage that shakes the status quo. Do it today.

Stay vigilant. Ask: What’s happening now? What’s on the horizon? A retailer might see AI reshaping customer habits. A healthcare leader might spot telehealth’s rise. Don’t just react—anticipate. De Bono’s “PO” (Provocative Operation) can spark this: throw out wild ideas. What if your industry flips overnight? What if your customers demand something new? Play those what-ifs, and you’ll be ready when they hit.

This is your moment. Chaos rewards the bold, not the bystanders. Lean in. Shape what’s next.

Conclusion: The World Needs You Now

Leadership in a storm isn’t for the faint-hearted. It’s raw, demanding, and deeply personal. But it’s also bigger than you—bigger than any one person. It’s about igniting potential, crafting futures, and leaving the world better than you found it.

Lead yourself with discipline and heart. Build a vision that inspires and a strategy that delivers. Empower your team to soar, not just survive. Face the unknown with curiosity, not fear. 

The world doesn’t need more managers—it needs transformers. Visionaries. Humans who dare to care.

Will you step up? The choice is yours. It always has been.