Finding direction in uncertain waters

In uncertain waters, when the waves are high and the sky is dark, it's only natural to look to others for direction.

But sometimes when the uncertainty gets too large for comfort, people cluster together around extremist thinking. They get locked into the simplest answers, a kind of black-and-white thinking that deliberately avoids the complexity of our messy world. The further they commit to the extremist thinking, the farther they may get from their inner compass of beliefs.

You may wonder, why does this happen? Well, first off, it's comforting to think you've found the answer. Also, if someone else provides the solution, you don't have to go through the messy work of confronting complexity and facing difficult situations. John Maxwell calls this kind of pressure "popular thinking" and he reminds us to challenge it.

Chart your own course

You can think of it as navigating a rough ocean. Finding our way is difficult in normal conditions and harder during a storm. Charting our course involves countless decisions, which may require us to weigh opposing outcomes and goals, not to mention diverse values and beliefs. None of us travel over this rough ocean alone.

The trick is to recognize the storm and keep going. As Aristotle Onassis said, "We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds."

If we let others steer our ship, we may end up in a place we never intended. Even after we can tell where the ship is going and we know it's not where we want to be, it may feel too late to change course. As John Maxwell points out in "How Successful People Think", popular thinking is slow to embrace change and generally yields mediocre results.

That's why as a leader, you must question popular thinking. It takes work and an open mind, but most of all it takes courage. There is no other way to navigate the rough ocean when a ship full of people are counting on you.

How to challenge popular thinking

Here are 3 key strategies you can use to deepen your thinking on challenging issues:

1. Question not only the opinions of others, but your own. We all find it easier to question others than ourselves, but if you want to make the best decisions, you need to examine your own assumptions and values. It can help to welcome the ideas of people whose opinions are different from yours.
2. Try doing things in a new way. We often default to habitual behaviour because it makes life easier. This may be even more true in stressful times. Be brave and try new behaviours. You may be pleasantly surprised by the results and after all it is just an experiment. If the new behaviours don't work, you can set them aside.
3. Recognize the value in feeling uncomfortable because that's where good ideas begin. It may feel counter-intuitive in a stressful time to move towards the discomfort, but the risk is worth the benefit. Good ideas are born from struggle.

Leading with purpose

Leaders who challenge popular thinking chart their own course. You can also think of this as leading with purpose. Napoleon Hill developed a useful formula for doing this. He said that how well we try and how much we do, plus a good mental attitude, leads to compensation. The compensation may not necessarily be the type of compensation we hoped for. It may be personal growth or the benefit of knowing we've done something to help others.

Check out our recent video, Act Purposely in Times of Crisis, to learn more about what you can do to lead well in these difficult times. Stay tuned for our Life on Purpose course coming soon. As William Arthur Ward, a motivational writer said, "The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails."

Call to action

1. Identify at least one example of popular thinking that could impact your business. For example, you may have heard speculation on when the pandemic will end, or how it will impact your business sector.
2. Question your opinion on this matter and open yourself to ideas different from your own. How has this changed your thinking? What new ideas did you discover?
3. Can you approach this challenge by doing things differently? Are there ways you might change how your business gets things done?

4. Did this process make you uncomfortable? Remember, feeling uncomfortable is often where good ideas begin.

We support your growth in these difficult times and would be grateful if you'd like to share your journey with us. Send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear your reactions to the ideas shared in this blog.

The best is yet to come. It starts with you!
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