How to Lead Through Uncertainty and Maintain Employee Engagement:
A Leader’s Guide to Thoughtful Decision-Making
We recently read an article in Harvard Business Review that we loved. The author, Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, a Columbia Business School professor, author, and business consultant, writes that during this time when we’re all experiencing angst about geopolitical instability, AI fears, climate stress, layoffs, the looming threat of entering into a recession, and more (Yes. Eggs are still expensive), leaders are “operating in a state of perma-crisis.” Strauss Einhorn asks leaders to take pause and ask these four questions before they make any decisions:
What decision today will still make sense a year from now?
If a year from now this decision was used as an example of our leadership, what would it teach?
What if this isn’t the storm—what if it’s the climate?
What’s the cost of waiting?
Read this article. It offers a timely framework for decision-making, encouraging leaders to adopt a reflective and strategic approach to their choices. Here’s a short summary of these questions and how they apply to decision making in organizations of all sizes.
Make the decision today that you will still feel confident about a year from now.
Not what’s easiest. Not what makes the spreadsheet look better this quarter. But what will still feel like the right move a year from now? When you're in doubt, base decisions on organization values, aligning them with the organization's mission and vision. This should guide your long-term direction. That’s how you avoid playing whack-a-mole with decisions—and start leading with intention.
Make decisions that a year from now would reflect the leadership you want to be known for.
This one hits close to home for a lot of people. Imagine someone telling the story of this moment—how you handled it, what tone you set, what ripple effects it created. What would they say about you as a leader? Don’t aim for perfection—aim for clarity, empathy, and consistency. That’s what builds trust.
Lead like this is the climate, not the storm
This can be tough, but it’s necessary. We all want the hard part to pass. But sometimes, the “hard part” is the new normal. Are you waiting for things to go back to how they were? Or are you ready to adapt to how they are? This is the mindset shift that separates reactive leadership from resilient leadership.
Consider the cost of delaying action
Not deciding is a decision—and it can be a costly one. Waiting feels safer, but it can slowly erode momentum, trust, and opportunity. What will it cost your team, your mission, your energy to stay in limbo? You don’t need to have everything figured out to take a thoughtful next step.
Here’s the truth: leadership doesn’t always look like bold, sweeping action. Sometimes it looks like slowing down just enough to ask better questions. These four are a great place to start. Come back to them often. They’ll help you lead not just through uncertainty, but through whatever comes next.
Try this free course from Harvard: Resilient Leadership.