Lessons From The Pandemic On Leading Through Disruption

Five years after Covid-19 upended life, one thing is clear: Major disruptions aren’t rare—they’re constant. Whether triggered by global crises, technological shifts, or economic volatility, leadership today demands more than crisis management skills; you must transform uncertainty into opportunity. Here’s how.

Proactively engage with uncertainty. Shift from rigid annual planning to continuous scenario forecasting. Identify emerging trends early and build cross-functional teams to act on new opportunities—before they become crises.

Balance employee and company needs. One-size-fits-all policies don’t work. Focus on performance over presence. Gather real feedback, design hybrid models that support both engagement and business goals, and ensure accountability through clear milestones, not return to office mandates.

Test new ideas—quickly. Move beyond slow planning cycles. Foster a culture where experimentation is routine, failure is seen as valuable data, and rapid iteration is the norm. Start with small pilots, scale fast, and stay adaptable.

Make smart decisions with limited information. You won’t always have perfect data. Define clear decision-making principles, build rapid-response playbooks, and refine your strategy as new insights emerge.

Communicate to build trust. Be transparent, direct, and authentic. Acknowledge uncertainty while reinforcing stability. People trust actions over words, so align your messaging with leadership that backs it up.

This tip is adapted from “5 Pandemic-Era Lessons on Leading Through Drastic Change,” by Rae Ringel and Lisa Kay Solomon.