I have been navigating a lot of change in recent years - personally and professionally. Sometimes it has been rapid, other times it's arrived in the form of unexpected disruption or complete ambiguity. Through it all I have often asked myself, "how do I move forward when the path isn't clear?" What I have learned is this: leading through uncertainty or moving through change has required anchoring in three things: clarity, resilience and purpose.

Change is overwhelming, at least to me. It stirs discomfort in my body and my mind. What helps is breaking things down in near term expectations. Clarity doesn’t mean certainty; it means setting immediate priorities and reducing noise. For me it is about becoming transparent with myself (and others) about what’s known, what’s unknown, and where decisions need to be made. It's about simplifying the big complex changes into small actionable steps, for myself and for my team. For example, launching my own consulting practice is an endeavor full of change, ambiguity and uncertainty. I would like it to be tremendously successful and for it to grow exponentially but I cannot predict the future. So what I have instead focused on are exciting and manageable steps to seed, and grow what will someday flourish wildly.

Resiliency has allowed me to bend without breaking, to adapt as circumstances change. A practice I’ve leaned on is learning from setbacks instead of fearing failure. I learned to reframe decisions as “trying something out” as this helps me feel more solutions-oriented rather than spinning in circles. I also rely on resources like coaching and therapy to support my wellbeing and psychological safety so I can keep taking risks. Another crucial piece has been learning to tolerate discomfort. We live in a culture that prioritizes comfort, and few of us are taught how to sit with discomfort early on. Instead of pushing it away, I’ve been practicing staying with it, which has helped me respond rather than react.

Purpose has kept me grounded. In times of uncertainty, it’s given me stability and direction when the “how” and “what” were shifting. Purpose helps me see meaning in my work and my actions, even amid chaos. It’s also forced me to articulate the “why” behind my actions, which often brings others along. When I connect back to purpose, I notice it not only steadies me but helps others trust the process.

Purpose has grounded me. Clarity has lit my way. Resilience has carried me through. My biggest lesson is this: in times of change, it’s not about removing uncertainty (or hoping it will disappear) but learning to move forward, anchored in confidence and resolve. When you are facing change or uncertainty, which of these clarity, resilience, or purpose do you naturally lean on most, and which one do you want to strengthen?