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Lead Through Chaos: Why Leadership is the Only Place to Start

Written by Chris Scherer | Apr 7, 2025 8:16:24 PM

This is the first in a short series on how to lead, strategize, and optimize talent in a volatile economy. Over the coming weeks, we’ll walk through practical ways for business leaders to take control — not just survive, but lead with clarity, purpose, and results.

The Economic Backdrop: Volatility is the New Normal

The 2025 economy is anything but predictable. New tariffs, geopolitical tension, and a resurgence in protectionist trade policies are reshaping global markets. For U.S. businesses, this means unpredictable costs, supply chain instability, and shifting vendor and customer behavior.

We’re seeing this firsthand in our work with mid-market and large companies: proactive leaders are scrambling to reduce costs and shore up sourcing, while others are caught flat-footed.

But in every case, there’s a pattern:

The biggest vulnerability isn’t strategy or execution. It’s misaligned leadership.

Why Leadership is the Only Place to Start

When uncertainty strikes, most organizations default to operational triage — trimming budgets, pausing projects, renegotiating with suppliers. But these are tactical reactions. They’re only effective if leadership is aligned on why, where, and how to move.

And in too many cases, they aren’t.

We often ask leaders: “Are you 100% aligned on your strategic objectives?” Most say yes. But when we dig into the details — who owns what, how success is defined, what gets prioritized — the alignment isn’t there.

It’s not just a problem. It’s the problem.

According to BCG, transformation efforts where leaders were aligned were 77% more likely to succeed. Yet 57% of major initiatives still fail to hit targets.

A Simple Solution: The 90-Minute Strategy Alignment Session

To cut through the noise, we offer a 90-minute Strategy Alignment Session designed to get leadership teams aligned — fast.

In one virtual session, you’ll:

  • Get to 100% agreement on your team’s top business objectives

  • Understand how your team’s behavioral strengths and blind spots impact execution

  • Identify misalignments and address them with clear, actionable recommendations

  • Walk away with a shared Work Styles Framework and immediate next steps

You’ll also receive a team-wide PI Behavioral Assessment and a presentation-ready report.

And the best part? It’s risk-free. If you're not satisfied, you don’t pay.

 

The Bottom Line

In times like these, leadership alignment isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity.

If your team isn’t united, nothing else works. Start here. Before you optimize your supply chain, realign your strategy, or launch your next initiative — make sure the people leading it are pulling in the same direction.

Coming Next Week:
How economic volatility exposes leadership blind spots — and what to do before they cause real damage.