Flashback to April 2020. One month into the pandemic, the world stood still. As CEO of BPC, my days were a blur of Zoom calls and frantic news updates. Remote work became the norm, and businesses collectively held their breath, seeking direction amid the chaos. Innovation was no longer optional. It was survival. My leadership mantra: Guide with clarity, project calm and seek opportunity within the crisis.

Rewind to 2008. The collapse of Lehman Brothers triggered a global financial crisis, plunging the world into recession. Joining a financial institution in the middle of widespread layoffs, the landscape was one of fear and instability. Leading a shaken team required not only navigating professional turmoil but also providing reassurance in the face of the team members’ immense personal anxieties – a stark reminder of the human cost of economic upheaval.

One more rewind – the early 2000s. The dot-com bust gripped Wall Street with a different fear: the unraveling of the “new economy.” Leading an investment department meant facing panicked clients watching portfolios shrink. The elation of the boom vanished, replaced by uncertainty. As a young leader, it was a profound lesson in the emotional toll of a market collapse and the need for empathetic guidance to both clients and team members.

Today’s modern business environment often feels like navigating an endless storm, characterized by geopolitical shifts, rapid technological advancements and economic volatility. Yet this sense of uncertainty, while amplified in our interconnected world, is not unprecedented. For many leaders like me, past crises have forged invaluable lessons, providing a crucial framework for navigating today’s complexities.

Learning by facing adversity and challenge through these experiences was hard, but understanding how to steady a shaken team and find a path forward amid chaos taught me valuable leadership lessons that have stayed with me today. In fact, going through turmoil became the foundation for leading effectively through the now all-too-familiar challenge of relentless uncertainty.

Today’s uncertainties – while different in their causes and effects – demand the same type of leadership as past crises like the pandemic, the 2008 financial crisis, and the dot-com bust (not to mention the crash of 1987, the Gulf Wars, 9/11 and many other challenges I’ve experienced). We navigated those periods of turmoil and unknown, and we can navigate today’s environment as well by leaning on some essential leadership skills.

Building trust 

A recent Harvard Business Review article, “What Employees Need from Leaders in Uncertain Times,” offers valuable guidance for navigating this perpetual state of flux. The authors emphasize the critical role of the leader in providing internal stability amid external chaos. One key strategy highlighted is the importance of building trust; the authors state: “When a leader fulfills expectations over time, it creates an informal contract with employees, a mutually reinforcing bond of thick trust.” This resonates deeply with my experiences across these prior periods of upheaval. Whether it was reassuring a shaken team in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, calming panicked clients during the dot-com implosion, or providing stability to a remote workforce during the pandemic, consistent and honest communication was the bedrock of confidence. 

Today, this principle remains critical. Your team and your stakeholders need to know where you stand, even when the ground is shifting beneath them. Transparency and reliability are the anchors that keep people grounded.   

The power of vision 

Building on this foundation of trust, the same HBR article underscores the necessity of a clear vision. As the authors note, “Vision gives your people something stable to hold on to when things get stormy.” During each of the crises I navigated, the ability to articulate a long-term perspective – whether it was the eventual market recovery post-2008, the future of digital engagement after the dot-com crash or the enduring value of human connection during the pandemic – provided a vital sense of direction. Today, your ability to articulate a compelling future, even amid the ambiguity, offers a beacon of hope and a shared purpose that transcends the immediate challenges.

Uncertainty as opportunity 

A recent Purdue University article, “Uncertainty or Opportunity – Leading Through Uncertain Times,” provides a crucial mindset shift. As the title suggests, the way leaders frame uncertainty can significantly affect their organization’s response. The authors implicitly encourage a proactive stance, aligning with the HBR article’s point: “A final way to lead in times of extreme uncertainty is to frame the unknown as an opportunity.” 

The aftermath of each crisis I navigated revealed unexpected shifts and new avenues for growth. In times of upheaval, a sense of liberation can emerge, fostering experimentation with new ideas, organizational structures and streamlined processes. Crisis can be a powerful catalyst for ideation, leading to innovations often overlooked – or avoided – in calmer periods. Cultivating adaptability and encouraging exploration within teams can unlock unforeseen advantages amidst disruption.

The importance of data and honesty 

Another Harvard Business Review article, “Why Some Companies Grow Amid Uncertainty – and Others Don’t,” offers another crucial perspective. It highlights the importance of facing reality with a data-driven approach. As the authors point out, “The executives who lead growth and profits exemplars stand apart for their unblinkered focus on the facts and their relentless determination to act on them.” 

This lesson was starkly evident during the dot-com bust and the 2008 financial crisis, where a clear-eyed assessment of the situation, however painful, was essential for making informed decisions and charting a path forward. In today’s complex environment, a commitment to understanding the data and being candid about the challenges – whether those are economic, technological or geopolitical – is essential for building trust and mobilizing effective responses.   

Enduring principles for a turbulent world 

Like many leaders, I’ve navigated numerous challenging and unstable periods. The crucial lesson from these often brutal experiences is that resilient leadership in uncertainty demands trust, vision, honesty and a proactive, data-driven approach, alongside the capacity to learn and adapt. 

The lesson? We’ve navigated these choppy waters before, in different forms. This history of overcoming adversity has provided me with a strong foundation for facing today’s unknown, and I encourage other leaders to remember the challenges they have overcome and draw strength from them. 

Ultimately, these enduring principles of leadership, including the ability to find opportunity in difficulty, are timeless. Let’s leverage those hard-won lessons to not just weather this seeming state of flux, but to emerge stronger and more agile.