Leadership Questions For Navigating The Fuzzy Road Ahead

As the end of the year approaches, many of us tend to feel as though we have one foot in the current year and the other foot in the year to come.

On one hand, we're running hard — trying to achieve the goals we set, making sure every opportunity is captured and keeping staff motivated, partners secured and operations in order.

On the other hand, our attention is already shifting — we're thinking about new goals and the strategies we'll develop to reach them.

It's all part of good planning, right? Well, yes...at least, usually.

If there was a Magic 8 Ball that could answer all your questions about the future correctly, this would be the year to get it.

That's because your game plan for 2020 — whatever it was — is only going to provide you with the fuzziest of roadmaps for 2021.

And don't expect that lack of clarity to end anytime soon. By all accounts, 2021 is going to be another unusual year. Perhaps a bit like 2020, but certainly nothing like 2019.

What does this mean for leaders?

Quite simply, 2021 is going to require more patience and courage than ever. Not to mention, more discipline and creativity; focus and flexibility; leading and following.

You will be able to build on what you've learned in 2020, but only to a point. Because what is really going to help you navigate and thrive in 2021 is asking all kinds of questions — and asking them relentlessly.

With imperfect data and a limited line of sight, here's our stab at some of the biggest questions and most important themes (grouped by category) that we think you'll need to keep asking about and discussing all the way through 2021:

Capacity & Investing

• How much should I invest in moving forward when I know I need to save resources for a rainy day?
• How do I set goals for my company that are ambitious but also sustainable and realistic?

Leadership

• What does strong leadership for my team, my organization and my community look like in the face of the many crises we’re experiencing?
• How can I stop being afraid of uncertainty and instead embrace it, along with the impact it has on my business?

Customer Engagement

• How can I listen more closely to my customers; to both their spoken and unspoken needs?
• What can I offer my customers that will help them be more effective and, even better, get them to say, “Ah-ha! That’s exactly what I need.”

Focus & Energy

• What pace should I set for 2021 so that I don't miss out, burn out or peak too soon?
• If I approach big problems one at a time will I make progress, or only tread water?

Over the course of the coming year, I’ll be diving into these questions more deeply. I’ll share my insights and my clients’ experiences.

As I do, and as the year progresses, I’m sure more questions will arise.

So, I invite you to not only follow along, but to also pose your own questions and ideas.

I’m a firm believer that we’ll only get to the other side of this strangest of times if we all pitch in, support one another and share our knowledge.

Let's get talking!