You don’t have to be 400 feet under the ocean to feel like the pressure is crushing you.
Right now, leaders across the country are grappling with relentless waves of change—economic shifts, workforce instability, technological disruption, and rising uncertainty. Employees are anxious, morale is shaky, and the old ways of leading just aren’t cutting it anymore. I’ve been there—only in my case, the stakes included 110 lives and a billion-dollar nuclear submarine. In today’s business world, the stakes are just as real: the survival of your business, the well-being of your people, and your ability to adapt quickly in a high-stakes environment.
So, how do you keep your team calm, focused, and moving forward when it feels like the ground is shifting beneath you? Let me take you below the surface to share what I’ve learned.
Staying Steady in a Storm: What Your Team Needs Now
As a former U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer, I’ve faced uncertainty at every turn—where every decision could mean the difference between life and death. And here’s what I know: in any environment of extreme uncertainty, leadership—not management—is what keeps people going.
Your team doesn’t just need instructions or policies—they need belief. They need direction. They need you.
Here’s how you lead them through the chaos:
1. Be Their Calm in the Chaos
On a submarine, every decision has weight. Every sound, every movement, could mean danger. But no matter how fast my heart was racing, I had to project calm. Because when you’re 400 feet under, panic spreads faster than sound.
In business, the same rule applies. Your team is looking at you to set the emotional tone. If you’re anxious, they’ll be anxious. If you’re steady, they’ll steady themselves.
- Practice visible steadiness: This doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It means being transparent about challenges without letting fear take the wheel. Acknowledge reality, but model resilience.
- Communicate often and consistently: In times of uncertainty, silence is your enemy. Even if you don’t have all the answers, show up. A short, honest update can do more to calm nerves than a perfectly crafted memo. Your presence matters.
- Lean into vulnerability: The strongest leaders don’t hide their humanity. Share that you’ve faced tough moments too—but show how you’ve navigated them. It builds trust.
2. Simplify the Mission
When the world is spinning, clarity is a lifeline. On board the submarine, no matter how chaotic it got around us, we always knew the mission. It wasn’t buried in a 50-page document—it was simple, actionable, and known by everyone.
Today, too many teams are lost in complexity. Multiple goals, shifting targets, endless priorities. No wonder employees feel overwhelmed.
- Clarify your One Page Purpose Plan: If your team can’t state the mission in a sentence, you’ve lost them. Get back to basics—why are we here? What’s the one thing that, if we nail it, moves everything else forward?
- Align every action: Every project, every meeting, every decision should tie back to the mission. If it doesn’t? Re-evaluate.
- Make it personal: Connect the mission to individual purpose. When people see how their role matters to the bigger picture, they bring their best selves to the work.
In uncertain times, clarity is power. Cut through the noise.
3. Empower Quick, Smart Decisions
On the sub, we didn’t have the luxury of time. If we waited for perfect information, we were dead. That’s why we used the 40-70 Rule: If you have 40-70% of the information, make the decision. Don’t wait for 100%. It’ll be too late.
The business world today demands speed and agility. But many teams are paralyzed by fear—fear of getting it wrong, fear of the unknown.
- Normalize fast, informed decision-making: Teach your team that speed matters. Not reckless speed—but decisive action based on what you know now.
- Create psychological safety: People won’t take risks if they’re afraid of being punished for mistakes. Celebrate the act of making smart, quick decisions—even when they don’t work out perfectly.
- Course-correct openly: Show that changing direction isn’t failure—it’s leadership. Your team will follow your lead.
Elite teams make the most smart decisions, the fastest. That’s the competitive edge today.
4. Create a Culture of Ownership
When I led 110 men, most in their early 20s, they weren’t just following orders. They were owning the mission. Each of them knew their role mattered. Each felt like a leader.
You can’t be everywhere. You can’t make every call. Nor should you.
- Flatten hierarchies: Break down silos. Encourage input from all levels. The best ideas often come from the ground.
- Use Guided Decision Making: When someone comes to you with a problem, don’t just solve it for them. Ask: “What do you think?” Teach them to think critically, weigh options, and act.
- Celebrate initiative: When someone steps up, spotlight it. Let others see what ownership looks like.
Ownership fuels engagement. And engaged teams are resilient teams.
5. Recognize and Re-energize
Uncertainty drains people. They’re tired. They’re wondering if their work even matters.
I’ve seen burned-out sailors light up with just a few words of recognition. That’s the power of Bravo Zulu—Navy code for “well done.” Your team needs more of that now.
- Don’t wait to recognize: Catch people doing things right. Publicly. Often.
- Make it meaningful: Tie recognition to your values and mission. “Great job” is fine. “Great job living our value of adaptability under pressure” is better.
- Understand the impact: Recognition isn’t fluff—it’s strategy. It builds confidence, reinforces behaviors, and keeps people going.
In a world full of challenges, your appreciation is their fuel.
Final Thought: Elite Leadership is Needed Now More Than Ever
We are in uncharted waters. The economy, technology, and the workforce are evolving faster than ever before. Fear, uncertainty, and doubt are everywhere. According to a March 2025 report by Modern Health, 75% of U.S. employees are experiencing low mood, largely driven by global political turmoil and current events. But leadership—true, Elite Leadership—is about rising to meet these challenges head-on.
During my time in the submarine force, I learned that leadership in uncertainty isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about creating clarity, building trust, empowering others, and staying steady even when the enemy appears out of nowhere.
Today’s leaders must do the same. We need to evolve, adapt, and lead with purpose. Because in times like these, it’s not more management we need—it’s more leadership.
So, the question is: How elite do you want to become?
Let’s go.
—Marc Koehler
Founder, Lead With Purpose
Keynote Speaker | Elite Leadership Expert | Former U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer