OEN NewsLeading Through Uncertainty: Why the Best Leadership Starts Within
As entrepreneurs, we are no strangers to uncertainty.
Markets shift. Employees come and go. Customers change their buying habits. Economic conditions fluctuate. Technology evolves. And often, the weight of navigating it all falls squarely on our shoulders.
When uncertainty shows up, our instinct is often to look outward. We focus on the strategy, the numbers, the competition, the next decision, or the next problem to solve. While those things matter, I’ve learned that the most important leadership work during uncertain times doesn’t start around us—it starts within us.
Seven years ago, after more than three decades in banking, I hit a wall.
I was exhausted, frustrated, and burned out. I was leading through significant turnover and carrying the pressure of delivering results while supporting my team. Like many leaders, I believed that if I worked harder, pushed more, or found the right solution, things would improve.
Instead, I found myself stuck.
What ultimately changed my leadership—and my life—wasn’t a new strategy or organizational structure. It was a shift in how I understood myself.
Through executive coaching, I began to uncover patterns of thinking and behavior that I didn’t even realize were influencing how I showed up as a leader. I learned that we don’t respond to reality itself; we respond to our perception of reality. Our perceptions shape our emotions, our emotions drive our behavior, and our behavior influences the culture around us.
That realization changed everything.
I stopped leading from a place of hypervigilance and started leading from a place of greater self-awareness, curiosity, and trust. I learned to embrace vulnerability as a leadership strength rather than a weakness. I became more intentional about putting people first while still delivering results.
The outcomes were remarkable. Team turnover decreased. Results improved. Relationships strengthened. Most importantly, leadership became more sustainable and far more fulfilling.
Uncertainty Reveals Leadership
One of the greatest misconceptions about leadership is that our job is to have all the answers.
In reality, people don’t need leaders who know everything. They need leaders who can create clarity when answers aren’t obvious, who can communicate honestly when circumstances are changing, and who can remain steady when others are feeling uncertain.
This is where stewardship comes in.
At Stewardship Angle, we believe leadership is stewardship—a commitment to your people, your business, and the long-term impact you create.
Stewardship asks different questions:
- How am I showing up right now?
- What story am I telling myself about this situation?
- Who is impacted by the decisions I’m making?
- What do my people need from me in this moment?
- How can I guide others through uncertainty rather than simply manage it? The Steward Leader Model
Over the years, I’ve found that leadership during uncertainty comes down to three essential practices:
Self Leadership
Before we can lead others effectively, we must understand and manage our own 2
thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership.
Engage Your Stakeholders
Change doesn’t happen in isolation. Employees, customers, partners, and communities all experience change differently. Great leaders take time to understand those perspectives and communicate with clarity, consistency, and empathy.
Stay Human Under Pressure
Pressure is inevitable. Burnout doesn’t have to be. Leaders who intentionally care for their physical, emotional, and mental well-being are better equipped to make sound decisions, build trust, and create resilient organizations.
A Different Way Forward
Uncertainty isn’t going away.
If anything, the pace of change will continue to accelerate. The leaders who thrive won’t necessarily be the smartest, fastest, or most experienced. They’ll be the ones who are willing to do the deeper work of understanding themselves, engaging their people, and leading with courage when the path ahead isn’t clear.
Because leadership isn’t about controlling uncertainty.
It’s about how we choose to show up within it.
And that choice has the power to shape our businesses, our relationships, and our impact for years to come.
Lead with stewardship. Build what lasts.
Find out more about Suzanne Van Amburgh, CCMP, Dare to LeadTM, Founder & CEO at Stewardship Angle
