Ep 42 - Strategy During Chaos: Adaptive Leadership For Unprecedented Times

Apr 24, 2025

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Are you struggling to maintain strategic focus in today's unpredictable environment?

In this lo-fi, candid episode, Sara shares her insights on navigating strategic planning during persistent uncertainty. Whether you're impacted by shifting tariffs, changes in public funding, or volatile market conditions, this episode offers practical frameworks to maintain strategic momentum when forecasting feels (or is) impossible.

Episode Highlights:

The Twin Traps: Why both over-planning and strategic abandonment are dangerous reactions to chaos
OKRs as an Antidote: How focusing on outcomes rather than activities creates strategic flexibility
Three-Step Framework: A practical approach to maintaining strategic momentum during turbulent times
Building in Public: The strategic advantage of quick launches during rapid change

Common Questions:

How do you create strategic plans when the environment is constantly changing?
What should replace detailed action planning when circumstances shift frequently?
How can leaders maintain team focus during periods of high uncertainty?

Notable Quotes:

"If you find yourself feeling like you need to revise your plan every time you turn on the news, you may be spending time planning that could better be spent on implementation." [00:03:59]

"OKRs let us focus on the goal and remain flexible about our plans, so they can be a bit of an antidote to over-planning." [00:04:27]

"The rapid iteration that's possible with building in public actually can create a strategic advantage during rapid change because you can be more relevant and responsive to exactly what's happening around you." [00:11:39]

Episode Chapters:

[00:00:00] Introduction to Thinkydoer Shorts

[00:00:36] Current Challenges in Strategic Planning

[00:01:49] Upcoming Workshop: Strategy During Chaos

[00:02:46] Adapting Strategic Plans to Uncertainty

[00:03:06] Avoiding Over-Planning and Abandonment

[00:06:49] Three Steps for Strategic Resilience

[00:08:07] Focusing on Immediate Priorities

[00:09:26] The To-Done List Approach

[00:12:03] Conclusion and Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events:

Strategy During Chaos Workshop: May 7th at 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM Pacific. Just $19 (scholarships available). Register at findrc.co
No-BS Strategic Achievement Intensive: May 15th-16th (two half-days). Create chaos-proof strategic plans with structured exercises and supported coworking. Register at findrc.co

Book Launch:

"You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" will be available in print (hardback and softback) on May 6th. Get the ebook now wherever you buy books. More info: youareastrategist.com

Stay Connected:

Join Sara's newsletter at findrc.co/newsletter.
Send questions through findrc.co/contact.
Find Sara @saralobkovich on most social media platforms.
For show notes and the full episode transcript, visit findrc.co/thinkydoers.

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook