There is a lot happening right now, and for many people, it creates a steady sense of
uncertainty and stress. Even when you are not directly impacted, you can feel it in
conversations, in the pace of work, and in the reactions of others.
I was recently asked how to stay calm when everything around you feels unsettled.
It’s a great question, because it’s easy to become anxious, even overwhelmed,
especially when others around you are feeling anxious or scared. Remaining calm
requires intention, and it starts with how we lead ourselves.
Start with Yourself
When things feel uncertain, the mind moves quickly. It scans for risk, tries to predict
what might happen next, and looks for ways to regain control.
That’s natural. But when we follow every thought, we can easily create more stress than
the situation itself requires.
Staying calm begins with noticing what is happening internally. What are you telling
yourself? What are you focusing on? What are you reacting to?
When you bring awareness to your thoughts and reactions, you create a pause. In that
pause, you have a choice. You can continue to fuel the urgency, or you can begin to
settle yourself.
Sometimes that looks like stepping away for a few minutes, taking a breath, slowing
your pace, or choosing not to engage with every piece of information that comes your
way.
Calm is not about ignoring what’s happening. It’s about managing how you respond to it.
How Leaders Help Others Stay Calm During Stressful Times
Once you’ve grounded yourself, you are better able to notice what’s happening around
you. And right now, many people are carrying more than they’re saying.
You may see it in shorter responses, increased frustration, or a lack of focus. You may
hear it in the tone of conversations or feel it in the energy in a room.
This is where leadership matters.
People don’t always need solutions in these moments. They need steadiness. They
need someone who cares enough to take the time to ask a simple question and truly
listen to the answer. They need someone who is willing to lean in and be fully present,
without judging or trying to change what they’re hearing.
Sometimes it’s as simple as asking, “How are you doing?” or “What’s been on your mind
lately?” and then pausing to listen, not to respond or to fix, but to understand.
That’s what creates connection.
It also requires self-awareness. Being present with someone doesn’t mean taking on
their emotions. It means staying grounded in yourself while allowing them to have their
experience.
When you can do both, you create a space where people feel supported without losing
your own sense of calm.
Calm Leadership in Uncertain Times
When things feel unsettled, it’s easy to think leadership is about taking charge, making
decisions, and moving things forward.
Sometimes it is.
But often, leadership in these moments looks different. It looks like slowing your pace,
being intentional with your attention, choosing your response rather than reacting
automatically, and creating space for others to process.
This is what it means to lead at the speed of people, not rushing past what others are
experiencing, but meeting them where they are.
Take a Moment to Reflect…
Where are you allowing external noise to influence your internal state?
How might your leadership shift if you chose to be the calm presence others can rely
on?
This is what leadership looks like: staying grounded, setting the tone, and not allowing
yourself to be carried by the emotions or urgency around you.
Navigating Change in Your Organization?
If this is something you’re navigating, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Book a complimentary 30-minute Leadership Clarity Call to explore how you can lead
yourself and others with greater calm, clarity, and confidence.
Schedule Your Complimentary Clarity Call
Dr. Julie Donley, EdD, PCC, is a leadership coach, keynote speaker, and award-
winning author of Leading at the Speed of People. She helps mid-to-senior level leaders
navigate conflict, reduce stress, and lead with calm, clarity, and confidence through the
CARE Leadership Model™. Learn more at drjuliedonley.com.