Leading through uncertainty

This week I spoke at the MilSatCom’s Women’s Forum, where the conversations centred around what it means to lead in environments where things are rarely straightforward. Different roles, different organisations, but very similar challenges: complex work, shifting expectations, people relying on you even when you don’t have all the answers.

One theme that kept coming up was mentorship and how leadership often happens long before a job title reflects it.

It can be seen in a number of different ways such as:

• the person who keeps communication clear when things get busy.
• the person who steps in to support a colleague when they are overwhelmed.
• the person who asks a difficult but necessary question.
• the person who tries to improve the culture around them, even in small ways.

These are quiet acts of leadership, but they make a real difference to how teams function and how we feel about our work.

It reminded me why I care so much about helping people feel more confident in these moments. Leadership is not just about authority, it’s about how we show up when things are uncertain.

I’d be interested to hear how leadership shows up quietly in your world too. Just hit reply if you’d like to share.

Susan

PS. A quick reminder, since I had a few people ask at the conference this week: I’m running an in-person Courageous Leadership workshop on 2 December in Oxfordshire. It’s designed for exactly these situations: leading from the middle, navigating complex dynamics, and learning how to stay calm when the pressure is on. 

I only have two places left so if you’d like to join us, you can find the details here:

https://launchpad-by-chp.circle.so/leadership-workshop