Thriving in Turbulent Times: The Power of a North Star

 

Uncertainty is a constant companion in life, but now it feels amplified. With geopolitical tensions, climate change, economic fluctuations and rapid technological advances, uncertainty is on steroids.

“The only certainty is more uncertainty.”

- Damien Bruckard, CEO of Geopolitical Strategy

Whether leading an organisation or a team or simply navigating your own path, the waters are undeniably turbulent.

 

Impact of Uncertainty

Uncertainty is the state of not knowing what lies ahead.

 It’s the lack of predictability, clarity, or control over situations or outcomes—a disorienting gap between where we are now and where we’re headed.

 This 'not knowing' can be deeply unsettling. It evokes fear—fear of failure, fear of making the wrong decision, or fear of the unknown. It can make us feel powerless, even helpless when it feels like external forces are in control. We might doubt our ability to rise to the challenge. The result? A sense of overwhelm, exhaustion, and even paralysis.

 While there are many ways to navigate uncertainty, I believe the foundation is having a North Star—a guiding destination that provides focus and purpose amidst chaos.

 

A Three-Tiered Approach

The North Star is your ultimate destination. It reminds you of your why, guides decision-making, and acts as an anchor in turbulent times. Without it, we’re adrift, at the mercy of external forces.

There are three dimensions where a North Star can help.

  • Me (personal)

  • Little Us (your immediate team)

  • Big Us (the broader organisation)

Think of the North Star as a three-point star. It is the destination, underpinned by the missionand values. So, what does that look like in reality?

 

Me: Your North Star 

This defines your primary goals, purpose and values. It’s the compass for how you live your life, and the choices you make, helping you stay focused on what truly matters.

Right now, at the top of my North Star is my next expedition. My work, training and studying are all about facilitating that.

My mission is To live an extraordinary life: one of value, of adventure, of creativity, of love.

My values:—kindness, respect, positivity, and honesty – guide how I show up.

This clarity keeps me grounded and gives me focus. It’s not about eliminating uncertainty but helps me make deliberate choices to stay aligned with my values and destination. 

 

Little Us: The Team North Star

For teams, the North Star ideally includes: 

  • Strategy and clear goal(s): The strategy and underlying goals should be specific, tangible and measurable.

  • A mission statement: Ideally aligned with the organisation’s mission but customised for the team.

  • Defined values: The behaviours and principles that guide how the team works together.

When uncertainty arises, teams can suffer from misalignment and conflict along with feelings of stress and overwhelm. A well-defined North Star for the team fosters:

  • Collaboration: there is mutual support with everyone knowing what they’re working toward, reducing confusion and finger-pointing.

  • Trust: a shared vision builds cohesion and confidence in one another and a shared sense of purpose.

  • Focus: clarity about priorities helps the team channel their energy effectively and focus on what matters.

As a leader, your role is to continuously communicate and reinforce this North Star, especially during times of change. 

 

Big Us: The Organisational North Star

Number one there should be a clear strategy. Too often this is missing. In my career, I can only think of one time that there was a documented strategy.

Saying our strategy is to make 10% more than last year isn’t a strategy. That’s a budget. Saying you’re going to be an industry leader is nebulous.

I find it staggering that so few organisations have a clear strategy and is a subject for another blog (aka rant).

The strategy should be aligned with the overall vision and/or mission of the organisation, along with the values and ways of working.

There are companies out there that do this well. One I love is Ben & Jerry’s ice cream (not just because I LOVE their ice cream). You can check out their values and mission here. They are clear:

We love making ice cream - but using our business to make the world a better place gives our work its meaning.

I reckon that would be a pretty cool (pun intended) place to work. Their Glassdoor rating is 4.1 out of 5, with 86% of employees recommending working there. They have come back to their mission and values during difficult times.

When uncertainty hits, a strong organisational North Star:

  • Provides stability and direction.

  • Acts as a compass for decision-making.

  • Maintains organisational identity through change.

  • Inspires employees to stay engaged and committed.

 In Summary:

The strategy shows us WHERE we’re going.

The mission tells us WHY we’re going there.

The values give us HOW we will work along the way.

 

This Isn’t a Panacea

Even with a clear North Star, navigating rapidly changing environments isn’t without its challenges. Fatigue, competing demands and constant problem-solving can take their toll and derail us.

Here are some tips to stay on course:

1.      Acknowledge the feelings: Normalise and accept feelings like fear and doubt. Denying or suppressing these emotions makes them stronger

2.      Control the controllables: Focus on what you can control: your actions, thoughts and words

3.      Revisit your North Star: Regularly check in with your North Star to stay aligned.

4.      Experiment: Treat uncertainty as an opportunity for innovation and learning

5.      Reflect and Adjust: Regularly reflect and extract the lessons learned and refine your approach.

In addition, you still need to be forward-thinking and look at scenarios that can take you off course. Map your exposure, monitor what’s going on and manage risks strategically and effectively. As much as possible you want to be responding not reacting to situations.

 

The Power of a North Star

Having a North Star doesn’t eliminate uncertainty, but it transforms how we experience it. It gives us courage, confidence, and clarity, even when the way is unclear.

Whether it’s guiding yourself, your team, or your organisation, a clear North Star is the foundation for navigating the inevitable storms. It’s not about predicting the future, it’s about intentionally shaping it.

Find yours, and you’ll be better equipped to live and lead boldly and with purpose, no matter how uncertain the world becomes.

What's your North Star?

 
Problem Solving, Strategy & ExecutionSarah Davis