How business leaders can turn uncertainty into opportunity — Meridith Elliott Powell

Many of today’s leaders and business owners are uncertain and a little anxious about a potential economic downturn. Today on Inside Automotive, we’re pleased to welcome Meridith Elliot Powell, award-winning business expert, keynote speaker, and popular author of 30 Days to Sales Success. In this segment, Powell discusses how business leaders can navigate and thrive through times of uncertainty.

Uncertainty is nothing new for business owners and leaders, but what could they accomplish if they believed that uncertainty always led to opportunity, even if it was negative? That is precisely what Powell set out to answer when writing her book Thrive: Strategies to Turn Uncertainty to Competitive Advantage. 

Motivated by the incredible amount of uncertainty over the past two to three years, Powell says she wanted “people to shift their mindset to believe that even when the biggest obstacle is in front of them, opportunity is out there if they can just push through it.”

Studying history reveals that even in our most collective, dire circumstances, some of the most significant breakthroughs and innovations have happened.

The two most crucial things readers will take away from the book:

• Opportunities are born out of the obstacles in front of you.
• Take the guesswork out of how to navigate uncertainty. This book is the methodology to help you tap into your greatest competitive advantage.

In uncertain times, business leaders tend to forget to include the people on their teams, but doing so creates anxiety and doubt about their compensation, job security, and performance. When Powell led her own team, she made it a point to include them in the process.

Business leaders must see beyond the obstacles and notice the tangible differences they are making for customers and how they transform industries. Put your focus there, and your mind will find a way to achieve it.

No matter where you are, uncertainty will find you. Uncertainty would be easy if it only had one phase, but that is not the case.

“Having a systematic way to work through it gives you the ability to make progress, and that’s really what you want to make in an uncertain environment. Just keep moving forward,” Powell adds.