🇬🇧 Geopolitics, Crises, AI – How Leaders Create Clarity in Uncertain Times

00:00:03: In stable times, people follow your expertise.

00:00:06: in uncertain times People Follow Your Clarity.

00:00:10: You cannot provide certainty But you can Provide clarity And I think this is one of YOUR and my own most important leadership tasks today.

00:00:26: Hello!

00:00:27: Welcome to the Lightwolf Podcast.

00:00:29: It's my pleasure to welcome you here again Lightwolf – your podcast for leading with impact Upfront, it would be awesome if you subscribe to this podcast.

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00:01:08: And with that, let's jump right in to todays topic.

00:01:12: It is taken from the current reality From current news and it is entitled World Chaos How you can create clarity In uncertain times?

00:01:29: In my view we live a time That creates more uncertainty for people.

00:01:38: Wars geopolitical tensions are increasing.

00:01:44: From a European and specifically from a German perspective, I think three tectonic shifts are unfolding over the last two to three decades.

00:01:55: First The loss of China as a major export market.

00:02:00: In fact, China has become an exporter themselves.

00:02:04: Two-the loss off cheap gas from Russia As result Russia's attack on the Ukraine.

00:02:14: And three, The loss of effectively free military security from the United States.

00:02:21: On top of that economic uncertainty Inflation and volatile markets are shaping more and more decisions.

00:02:32: Technological disruption especially through artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming entire business models And at the same time, customer expectations, investors' needs and employees' expectations are changing.

00:02:51: In my perspective, the reality is uncertainty no longer an exception – it's a normal state!

00:03:00: This is exactly where many leaders make a critical mistake.

00:03:05: They believe they need to provide certainty.

00:03:10: That is not possible.

00:03:13: You cannot provide certainty, but you can provide clarity and I think this one of your and my own most important leadership tasks today especially if you are a member of the C-suite or If you're the woman or man who has general manager or CEO leading an entire business.

00:03:37: So what does clarity mean in practice?

00:03:41: Clarity does not mean having all the answers.

00:03:45: This is no longer possible in today's world, and it's no longer expected of a leader to have all the answer her or himself.

00:03:55: Clarity means understanding the criteria that defines success—understanding critical-success drivers —that remains an element of clarity.

00:04:07: Clarity means asking strong insightful questions and then truly listening to what others have to say, rather than just waiting to speak yourself.

00:04:17: Because what other says might contain pure gold.

00:04:21: it may contain better solutions that ever before if only we take the time to truly listen.

00:04:27: And three clarity means providing orientation despite uncertainty.

00:04:34: If any of these topics shared so far resonate with you then I brought three ideas for you to consider, to reflect upon and if you deem them useful feel free try them out in your daily leadership practice.

00:04:53: First one about decision-making and alignment.

00:04:59: Tip number One clear priorities instead of perfect plans.

00:05:05: In uncertain times long term plans become outdated faster than the ink can dry on any paper.

00:05:15: Decades ago, more then three decades ago when I started working in The Corporate World you could still think about a certain level of stability over maybe years time but nowadays with complexity and interconnectedness at this speed it's just impossible to predict what is going to happen.

00:05:37: Long-term plans become outdated quickly.

00:05:42: instead define what matters truly now What is really essential?

00:05:52: Now, that's one thing you can define and what will we consciously choose not to do?

00:06:01: This is another area where you can create clear priorities.

00:06:08: people need focus Not perfection.

00:06:12: So tip one is provide and ensure all around you.

00:06:18: clear priorities instead of perfect plans.

00:06:23: The second suggestion I'd like to share, it's related to communication.

00:06:28: Communication & leadership are inseparable twins Almost Like Vatslavik once said You cannot not communicate!

00:06:42: You either lead or you follow but there is nothing in between, right?

00:06:47: So it's important that you communicate and how you communicate.

00:06:53: So tip number two calm clear communication instead of false certainty.

00:07:01: don't even try to somehow explain the way uncertainty.

00:07:08: Instead communicate calmly And clearly, this is what we know.

00:07:15: That Is What We Don't Know Yet and This Is What WE Are Going To Do To Find Out!

00:07:24: In two weeks time I'm going to give you an update.

00:07:28: This kind of communication shows openness honesty transparency and reduces the perceived uncertainty and everyone around you.

00:07:44: And do so in a calm tone, convey calm through your voice and through your body language.

00:07:54: when people clearly hear what you think in your message... ...and at the same time clearly feel through your tone of voice and your body-language that you mean what you say then you create calm all around you.

00:08:16: And this calm transfers to your people because humans mirror human behavior.

00:08:27: if you radiate uncertainty, People get increasingly uncertain.

00:08:33: If you radiot calm peoples' Uncertainty will decline Because what you send returns, what you sent multiplies.

00:08:51: Therefore message and body language together create calm and trust more than any form of false certainty.

00:09:05: Let me illustrate this with an example that I truly experienced in my first career as a director, marketing director in a great multinational consumer goods company.

00:09:20: Imagine UNI RPS!

00:09:22: We are together.

00:09:23: we've been there for about nine or ten years.

00:09:27: both of us were shareholders our own company and within just forty-eight hours Our companies share price has dropped from one hundred twenty dollars to as low as fifty-six dollars, right?

00:09:46: Not only have we lost quite some money if were to sell all the shares now.

00:09:53: Both you and I are responsible for sizable teams.

00:09:56: We're both running teams with seventy or eighty people around us And those people are uncertain To say the least.

00:10:10: As a result of this The first time in our company's one hundred and eighty is history.

00:10:15: Our former CEO gets asked to leave.

00:10:19: the company had never happened before, but now it happens which sends a strong signal.

00:10:28: But there are still uncertainty.

00:10:30: until a few days later Our new ceo is coming to town.

00:10:37: We have three hundred people in our boardroom the biggest room we haven't the companies building And there is a ten-minute speech that changes a lot.

00:10:49: In comes our new CEO and he says, Ladies & Gentlemen I am the new CEO of The Company.

00:10:59: If you think...I already know what we need to do To turn this upside down and turn This downward trend around i have to disappoint You!

00:11:11: I don't Know yet.

00:11:14: And if you guys here running those three countries think that I could already advise, what to do?

00:11:19: To turn the business around in your Three Countries.

00:11:22: I have to disappoint You a second time.

00:11:26: but there are two things That i know.

00:11:30: Here Are my ten beliefs and these Ten Beliefs Have carried this Business Since one Hundred and Eighty Years Believe Number One Consumer is Boss and believe number Ten Lead Change.

00:11:49: And there is another thing I know, I believe in.

00:11:53: Not only our strong brands but it's you guys the strength of all people!

00:12:14: that I felt a bit more confident ten minutes later.

00:12:28: I felt, a little bit more hope... ...I felt we are somehow more together.

00:12:36: We're honest!

00:12:37: We admit we don't know every answer yet but were also getting closer and assembling in the lining more on.

00:12:47: two things have always carried this company which is its values & brands led and managed, and glued together by its people.

00:12:57: So that's to me a masterpiece of this second tip I'd like to share with you which is calm clear communication instead of false certainty.

00:13:10: And Tip number three Clear decisions.

00:13:14: despite incomplete information Waiting for full information Is no longer an option.

00:13:21: Make decisions based on seventy to eighty percent clarity.

00:13:27: Adjust quickly and expect your teams To adjust quickly as well.

00:13:34: Speed beats perfection by a mile.

00:13:41: Better fast than perfect should be our mantra.

00:13:46: And, to close let me leave you with one key message In stable times people follow your expertise.

00:13:55: In uncertain times, people follow your clarity.

00:14:01: If you want to learn how to lead yourself – your boss, your peers and team effectively in calm or turbulent times then I recommend please have a look at Lightwolf Academy.

00:14:17: Lightwolf academy linked herein the show notes contains topics that any leader needs to master.

00:14:26: If you invest at one year of time, Of learning leadership together with me online self-paced and six times a year in group life coaching With all the other members of Lightwolf Academy And with me then I promise if You invests The time say half an hour or week To consume the content into put it Into your daily lives?

00:14:51: and use what works for you.

00:14:55: Then I promise, one year later... ...you will be a stronger leader!

00:15:01: As sometimes wish i would have had these tools at any point in time in my corporate career….

00:15:07: …I would've advanced five years –at least- At any point of the time, had only taken the time to condense knowledge into the tools that are now shared with everyone in Lightwolf Academy.

00:15:21: If this resonates with you, have a look into the show notes and it would be my huge pleasure to soon welcome YOU as well in Lightwolf Academy!

00:15:30: The quality of your leadership is not shown when everything's predictable.

00:15:35: And when the sun is shining...the quality OF YOUR LEADERSHIP IS SHOWED WHEN MUCH IS UNCERTAIN.

00:15:44: IF YOU TAKE AWAY ONE THING FROM THIS PODCAST TODAY, LET IT BE THIS.

00:15:49: ASK YOURSELF ONCE A WEEK.

00:15:52: Maybe if you reflect more frequently, ask yourself at the end of every day.

00:15:59: Where do I create clarity tomorrow instead of waiting for certainty?

00:16:20: to have you again here on the show, maybe already next Monday in The Next Light Wolf podcast.

00:16:30: For today a sincere thank-you for your time and have great week until next time!

00:16:36: Thank You Your Stefan.