deliberate about where to invest our network, building a strong relationship with our partners( dealers, agents, merchants) and building a team that was proud to serve the customer daily.
The final stage is commitment. Here teams accept and embrace the change. They regain their confidence and the benefits start to be seen in performance and collaboration. When I reflect back to this point of inflection in my life, I now know that God was teaching me numerous leadership lessons( e. g. all change happens for a reason even if we do not understand it at that particular moment) and also guiding me along a great path.
Change is no longer an event, it is the environment in which we operate in. Markets shift, currencies fluctuate, technologies evolve, customer expectations are constantly changing, employees expect us to do better. As a result, organizations must constantly adapt. The initial reaction is usually to respond to everything at once. The most effective leaders do something almost counterintuitive. They narrow their focus. They focus themselves and their teams on what is within their control.
A wise quote read, direction is more important than speed. Navigating change is less about reacting to external forces and more about mastering internal discipline towards clarity of direction. A leader who effectively communicates a clear purpose- what matters now, what success looks like, what will not change- creates stability even in turbulence. Clarity becomes a competitive advantage.
Secondly, it is important that leaders maintain a positive mindset. Change often triggers fear, resistance or fatigue. You will hear your teams saying they are anxious and tired. This does not mean ignoring thechallenges that come
25 MAL71 / 26 ISSUE with the change; it means that as leaders we must frame them as solvable problems rather than insurmountable threats. A growth mind set allows the team to see change as an opportunity to learn and evolve and it builds resilience across the organization.
challenges that come with the change; it means that as leaders we must frame them as solvable problems rather than insurmountable threats. A growth mindset allows the team to see change as an opportunity to learn and evolve and it builds resilience across the organization.
Thirdly, commercial rigor in execution, is within any leader’ s control. This includes prioritization, accountability, consistency.
Leaders who break down change into manageable actions help teams avoid being confused or overwhelmed. Small wins matter-they create momentum, reinforce confidence and prove progress even when the broader landscape seems uncertain.
Fourth and very key is culture. The famous quote goes, culture eats strategy for breakfast. Yet culture is within a leader’ s control. During periods of change, culture can either fracture or strengthen. Leaders who intentionally reinforce values- collaboration, ownership, innovation, speaking up- ensures that behavior aligns with the demands of the moment. Psychological safety becomes even more important when people feel like they need to vent, feel the need to experiment, or contribute ideas. This helps organizations to adapt faster.
Communication, communication, communication! This is one of the most underestimated control point. In the absence of clear communication, a vacuum automatically crops up. People fill the gaps with assumptions. Frequent, honest, and transparent communication builds trust. It is better to say‘ we don’ t have all the answers yet’ than to say nothing at all. Consistency in messaging reduces anxiety and keeps the team well aligned.
Finally, leaders must also learn to take care of themselves and manage their energies. Change is very demanding and burn out at the top quickly cascades downward. Managing time, setting boundaries, maintaining personal resilience are not luxuries- these are leadership responsibilities. A leader who sustains their energy sustains their team.
Rose Mwende made a deliberate decision of who she will be based on the actions she took. She chose to focus on what she could control. Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you have power over, instead of craving control over what you do not as aptly put by Steve Maraboli.
Change may be inevitable, but chaos is not. With the right focus, leaders can turn uncertainty into momentum, and momentum into transformational growth. Deliberately choose to be this leader.
Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi is the Chief Consumer Business Officer, Safaricom PLC. You can commune with her on this or related matters on email at: Fawziakimanthi @ gmail. com.