It has always irked me when some CEO or other business leader complains about not knowing what to do in a given challenging situation, oftentimes blaming tough times or once-in-a-lifetime issues. I always think: “You are the leader; it is your job to figure out what needs to be done.”
But lately, I've been rethinking that stance, if only a bit, not because times are tough but because there's so much uncertainty right now. Part of me thinks that leading in tough times is a bit easier than leading through uncertainty.
Today, we are faced with uncertainty on several fronts, including tariffs, regulations, and a host of other issues. While I may have softened my opinion about the role of leaders, ultimately, leaders are supposed to lead.
No leader can afford to do nothing. Decisions need to be made, and leaders are tasked with bringing clarity amid chaos. The best way to do that is to start with data, both current and historical.
The trucking industry has operated in periods of uncertainty in the past. Review the lessons learned from those trying times to see if you can use them to guide you in making decisions in today’s uncertainty.
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I think another thing leaders can remember is that if circumstances change after they make a decision today, they can re-evaluate and tweak their decision to reflect current conditions better. No one is locked into a decision forever.
This is similar to the advice we’ve been giving fleets when it comes to choosing alternative powertrain solutions. A decision to go with one fuel and powertrain over another today does not necessarily lock a fleet into that solution 5 or 10 years from now. Technology and circumstances will change, and decisions can be revisited and adjusted.
Leaders instill confidence in their team members, and when they delay decision-making, they risk losing their staff's support.
Once a decision has been made, it is important to share it and to be transparent with the people impacted by it. It is okay to say that the decision was tough to make and that you may have to change course as conditions change.
Leading through uncertainty is no fun, but when you take on the mantle of leadership, it is what you sign up for. It’s sort of like the “for better or for worse” of marriage vows. I am not saying we are in the worst situation trucking has ever been in, but we are certainly navigating through a great deal of uncertainty.
Leaders need to stay strong and keep making the tough decisions until the picture becomes clearer, and the decision-making process becomes easier.
