LEADERSHIP EMBRACE POLARITIES. In times of stress, we often resort to “eitheror” thinking when we should be embracing “and” thinking. For instance, in an unpredictable business environment, rather than being frugal or revolutionary, smart leaders might decide to cut back on costs in some areas and invest in new opportunities in other areas. This type of thinking can be helpful in our personal lives as well. For example, after hearing from numerous doctors that “so much is still unknown about long COVID,” I had to learn to embrace two seemingly competing ideas: find acceptance for my chronic health issues in the short term and continue to be optimistic in my search for a cure in the long term. 3 DEVELOP GROUNDING PRACTICES. Many studies show that our decision-making can be impaired when we’re under stress as two of our body’s hormones — cortisol and dopamine — hinder executive control functions in the brain’s prefrontal cortex. So if you need to make centered decisions in volatile times, shedding stress and getting grounded is critical. One grounding practice I started this year is an evening walk in the park, which gives me space to decompress from the day and approach the next day with clarity and intentionality. Your grounding practice could include a short morning meditation, a oneminute pause between meetings to clear your mind of clutter from the last meeting, or a regular video chat with a colleague or coach to work through stress. Whatever practice you choose, it’s important to recognize that your internal mental state is deeply linked to performance, so cultivating this capacity is not just a nice-to-have but a must-have if you wish to lead powerfully. 2 WIDEN YOUR LENS. When confronted with unpredictability, we need to expand our thinking to see what might be missing. One way to widen your perspective is to surround yourself with people from diverse socioeconomic or cultural backgrounds and those who bring cross-industry experience or other forms of divergent thinking. For example, in my current workplace at Teach For All, we have explicit hiring criteria around diversity because we recognize it makes our decisions and solutions stronger. Other ways to widen your lens include joining external networks, where you can get exposure to new perspectives, and building a diverse, personal board of advisors whom you can reach out to for counsel. Looking at situations from a new vantage point may help you see new possibilities that weren’t visible before. This matters particularly in uncertain times and when dealing with complex problems where no one person could hold the entire answer. You can’t control everything around you, but you can choose how you respond in every moment. If you embrace uncertainty with curiosity and creativity, you might not only survive in this rapidly changing world — you may find ways to thrive in it. 4 Looking for a confidential space to discuss your current challenges and opportunities? Join the Real Leaders Impact Collaborative, a peer-to-peer group model designed to provide time-starved, purpose-driven CEOs with a high level of support from a group of gender-balanced, diverse, values-aligned peers. SUMMER 2022 / REAL-LEADERS.COM 29 Radha Ruparell works with CEOs, Fortune 500 senior executives, social entrepreneurs, and grassroots leaders worldwide and heads the Collective Leadership Accelerator at the global network Teach For All. Her new book is Brave Now: Rise Through Struggle and Unlock Your Greatest Self.
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