How To Lead Through Challenging Times

2022 was the year we were going to leave the pandemic behind us, step back out of our quarantine, and rejoin the world. Instead, it brought us the omicron variant, an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, daunting gas prices, and the repeal of Roe vs Wade. One lesson we can garner from 2022 if he hadn’t earlier, is that we cannot tether our success and happiness to what’s happening in the world around us. I asked ten leaders how they continue to prosper even in tough times. This is how they responded.

Value Others and Show Empathy

“During challenging times, leaders need to show empathy for their team members,” says Jodi Daniels, CEO and privacy consultant at Red Clover Advisors. “Each role in a company is critical and it’s important to understand what an employee’s challenges are and also what motivates them to do their best work. People will remain loyal and more productive when they believe the company is invested in them as a person and not just a cog in the working wheel. People are living complex lives and human interaction plus genuine caring is essential to fostering employees to live their best selves. We believe in creating a culture where each team member is valued and passionate about making an impact on clients.”

Be Resilient, Welcome Change, and Maintain Focus

“The best and most successful leaders have had experiences that have made them resilient, comfortable with change, and given them the ability to stay focused on the goal or task regardless of the challenges that may come up. They continually find themselves needing to adjust the whole structure of how they do business,” says Clint Malarchuk, mental health advocate, author, and impact speaker.

“Today's leaders have empathy and compassion which helps keep their company and employees in balance. I think today's leaders have learned to respond rather than react to the emotional and changing times of today's world. Leaders empower others, encourage them to be creative, and let them know that their work and efforts are appreciated and that they have their backs. Leaders keep everyone informed, connected, and in the loop. But ultimately today's leaders are role models by leading by example with compassion and empathy for what others may be dealing with.”

Engender Endurance

“I’m no stranger to tough times. As someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety, it wasn’t easy to get through the struggles or deal with the pain of what I was experiencing,” says Dionne Joi, mindset expert, holistic coach, and founder of Joi Luck Club. “As a holistic wellness coach and mindset transformation strategist, I now use my knowledge and skills to help others get through hard times, whether they’re feeling stressed, in pain, or overwhelmed.”

“Having a positive mindset is essential for great leadership. Cultivating lasting relationships, having a support system, and building a solid network of other leaders will help you as well. Having people you can lean on, collaborate with, and call on for advice will also get you through obstacles you may face. Great leaders also know when to take a break, and when to ask for help. They surround themselves with other people who are just as smart as they are, if not smarter. They support others, make people feel seen and heard, and lift others up.”

Be Mentally Tough

“When I began my aesthetics business in 2018, I believed the characteristics of a leader were synonymous with those of any CEO: determined, driven, and communicative,” says Suzanna Gasso, nurse practitioner and founder of SG Aesthetics. “As a result, I attributed the rapid success of my business to my leadership capabilities. But four years and a global pandemic later, I’ve come to understand anyone can flourish in the absence of hardship. It’s the tough times that define you as a leader.”

“The pandemic was the toughest, yet the most valuable time of my life, both as a business owner and intensive care unit nurse practitioner. I’ve learned that the most important aspects of great leadership are composure, adaptability, anticipation, and perspective. Composure helps you keep a level head and positive mindset in the face of adversity, gaining respect from your employees and/or coworkers. Adaptability shows you’re open and willing to grow, a vital asset in our fast-changing world. And the anticipation of plans going awry hones your crisis management skills, leaving a smaller margin of error when conducting resolutions.”

Hone A Disciplined Drive to Succeed

“As both a first-generation immigrant and the female CEO of a biopharmaceutical company, I've often faced challenges related to my race and gender,” says Diane Tang-Liu, CEO of AiViva BioPharma. “My experiences across multiple cultures have heightened my mental resilience and honed a disciplined drive to succeed. My role allows me to interact with many brilliant scientists and professionals. Together we stay focused on bringing products through regulatory approval. And we are passionate about improving the quality of life of patients and their families with effective and convenient treatment options.”

“As a mentor, I'm honored to share my stories with the next generation of future leaders: I frequently remind my students to embrace humor and to take time for a daily dose of positivity.”

Respond Instead of React

“As business owners, there are times when things don’t go our way,” says entrepreneur and speaker Brian Covey. “When those moments happen don’t react, but instead, respond. Reacting with emotion will only cloud your judgment and cause you to make the wrong decision.

“Here’s what to do instead. Write out your process to see where things broke down. Make sure you’ve set clear expectations for your people and that they understand their role. This will help you to respond to issues or challenges in your business rather than just reacting out of emotion. Own the emotions but don't become them. Feel them and decide what action to take next.”

Focus on Making Your Clients Happy

“Focus on providing consistent value even when times are tough,” says Drew Blumenthal, founder, and CEO of Digital Drew SEM. “Every business owner, every company is an expert at what they offer. Focus on how you can deliver the most value to each of your existing clients as well as your future and potential clients, on every call, in every post, and on every page of your website. Going above and beyond even when times are tough will get you through even the most difficult challenges.”

Be Prepared to Fall Forward

“As a leader, you must be willing to fail forward, says entrepreneur and speaker Bobby Jones. “You aren’t always going to get things right. As a leader, you must be willing to take risks and fail. If you want to effectively lead your team, you must learn to take action, be decisive and lead with honesty and integrity. Be willing to admit when you are wrong, learn from your mistakes, and stay confident. You must believe in yourself before others will. You must invest in yourself before others will. When you do that, then you can lead others regardless of the times.

Look Inwards

“I think that in tough times, we need to focus inward instead of outward,” says Andrew Sallee, president of AJS Holdings LLC. “The exterior world pressures us to have, do, or be a certain way. We need to shift the focus toward ourselves, our education, our relationships, and expanding our knowledge to the next level. When you focus on bettering yourself internally, you can then lead others to their destiny - no matter what is going on around you.”

Be Flexible and Open

“The bamboo tree has an amazing quality – it is one of the most resilient plants on earth,” says Nova Lorraine, CEO, and chief metaverse officer of LORR. “It can withstand almost any type of weather condition and still thrive. The same principles apply to leaders who are open to new ideas.

“When leaders can embrace change and be flexible in their thinking, it sets the tone for others to do the same. This creates a much more productive and innovative work environment where new ideas are welcomed and encouraged. Being open-minded is a quality that all great leaders share, and it can help them to achieve success both in their personal and professional lives.”

Let’s face it. Great leaders know that nothing outside of themselves can derail the accomplishment of their goals. Success comes from within, first. Each of these ten leaders focused on an aspect of themselves they can improve, even when times are tough, to move the ball down the line. Whether it be showing our team that they’re valued, being resilient, mentally tough, disciplined, responsive, persistent, falling forward, looking inwards, or staying flexible and open, each of these is a skill each of us can develop in good times and in bad.