Four Leadership Essentials for Uncertain Times

The past two years have sowed a tremendous amount of uncertainty around the world. Yet, we are reminded that even though the most violent of storms, the     1    willow(柳树)bends but does not break. So, which skills and strategies should you pay attention to so that you and your organization can not only survive but even thrive through these complicated times? Here are 4 strategies you can apply to navigate your business in uncertain times:

Don’t Become Paralyzed by Uncertainty

No one knows what is coming over the next few weeks or months. Yet, you cannot afford to stand     2    in the face of ambiguity. You must be willing to act even without what you consider to be complete information.

Gather the best data available to you and move forward. In the words of Marcus Tullius Cicero, “More is lost by indecision than wrong decision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity. It will steal you blind.”

Adopt a Learner’s Mindset

Start by assessing your abilities honestly with tools, such as leadership self-assessment tests, and     3    which ones you want to work on most. Then, set a plan to create opportunities in which you can learn through direct experience, pushing yourself beyond your     4     zone. This will make you more prepared to face new challenges that you or your organization may encounter on the road.

Accept Life’s Paradoxes

Wise leaders understand that every situation holds positives and negatives, threats and opportunities. As you     5    these contradictions, you will become more resilient.

Ask yourself what you and your company might learn from the current crises. Can you create new products and services that     6    our present circumstances? Can you innovate the way you design and deliver your products and services?

Finally, remember the English proverb, “necessity is the mother of invention.” When faced with difficult situations, we are more likely to create innovative solutions, if we can learn to live with uncertainty, find a(n)     7    footing in the middle of the chaos, and accept life’s paradoxes.

To survive, thrive and profit, organizations must move from disruption to     8    —must evolve to retain and grow their people to ensure a successful talent pipeline-and the most vital organizations will     9    thrive by giving more than they take from the world.

Put simply, this new year demands a more human approach, with a particular eye toward inclusivity and adaptability. This     10    in leaders who can remain optimistic, build flexibility in times of disruption, and deliver business strategies that will create workplaces for both people and organizations to flourish and succeed.

When you set a big goal, you’re really assigning yourself       1     small tasks. When people give up on these big goals, it’s often because they haven’t figured out what those small tasks are or planned for the time and work needed.

No one wants to talk you out of a big goal. You should definitely pursue what you are     2     about in life. However, you should be realistic about where you are today, where you want to go and what you can reasonably achieve in the time frame and with the resources you’ve got. If you don’t really have the time or knowledge required to get where you want to go, it    3     to set a more achievable goal.

Once you meet that first goal, you promise yourself to set another and another. The approach is more effective because it guarantees at least some progress towards your big,     4    goal. It doesn’t have to be an “all or nothing” situation.

Once you’ve set a goal, you need to make achieving that goal part of your daily life. A new “habit stack” is needed. A habit stack is a series of small actions you do relatively in the same order each day. Most of us have a habit stack when getting ready for bed that includes washing your face, brushing your teeth, and setting your alarm, for example. You never or rarely     5     a step because the habit is set and you go from one activity to the next without even thinking about it. So, if you want to run a 10K this year, you’ll need to run nearly every day to practice. You should set out your running clothes and confirm your route the night before.

This is just one example of doing small things daily to help you achieve a larger goal. Goals that are “right-sized” relative to the amount of time and work you’re willing and able to invest are much more satisfying because you’re more likely to achieve them. Achieving a goal is an extremely       6     experience, and one that will build confidence so that you can work up to something more remarkable over time. As you set goals this year, overcome the “all or nothing” mindset and enjoy more success in the long term.

Teenagers often have bad habits. Most can be stopped by taking     1    action. However, habits like     2    and     3     abuse can lead to serious addictions. According to modern     4    , to change bad habits, we must first analyse them using the “habit     5    ”. To fix or improve a bad habit, we must first find out what the     6    is. Then we must change the old    7     routine to something more positive. If successful, we will feel a sense of     8     and our bad habit may disappear. Changing a bad habit is difficult, and it is easy to make excuses and give up. We need to make up our minds and show some     9    , and make small changes over time. There is no magic    10     to help us, but changing will ensure we have a happy and healthy life!

The online study room is a perfect place to keep you focused and productive, helping you     1     in study. By sharing your progress, you could also meet new friends     2    .

He     1     be lazy when he went into the senior high school last year. Not until he failed the exams did he realize his problem. He     2     his present situation. If he didn’t make a change, it was difficult for him to go to a good university. He     3     study harder than before. From then on, he     4     his study. So far, he has made fantastic progress. How can he make such great progress? It     5     hard work.