Is it fair to say we’re living in uncertain times? I definitely think it is. And when times are uncertain, I believe the best advice is: “Follow Your North Star.”
The North Star (also known as Polaris if you’re a trivia junkie), is a star located in the Northern Hemisphere that is almost directly aligned with Earth’s rotational axis. This makes it appear stationary in the sky while other stars appear to rotate around it. Polaris is a key reference point for navigation (it’s at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper) as it always points north. For associations, your North Star is your mission or purpose (as defined in your bylaws).
The North Star is also a symbol of guidance, stability and a constant point of reference. This is why I suggest you follow your North Star in times of uncertainty: your mission will guide you in the face of tough choices and grueling decisions.
I work with many organizations that are being challenged in the current environment. How do you plan when circumstances change rapidly? How do you develop a workable Plan B? We were tested this way by the pandemic and have resilience muscles to show for it. But the whipsaw nature of what’s going on and the daily drip of disruptive decisions mean we have to be especially light on our feet, diligent in our projections and laser-focused on our mission. If your organization is being challenged, I encourage you to focus on three things:
- This, too, shall pass. We don’t know when, but history shows that tough times come and go.
- Embrace “fast and roughly right decision making,” a concept by Rita Gunther McGrath in a Harvard Business Review article. Focus on making good decisions rather than the “best” decisions so that you are not paralyzed and can move quickly. Sometimes, doing anything (even if it’s not the “right” thing) is better than doing nothing.
- Taking the lead creates value. Your members are looking to you for help. Convene a think tank, set up mastermind groups, gather people online for conversations and highlight what leaders in your industry/profession are thinking and doing. In short, be a catalyst for problem solving.
During the pandemic, my personal North Star was this: we will prevail. I said it then and I believe it now. Sometimes, our best work is done during hard times. Don’t miss the opportunity.