Endless uncertainty. Heavy decisions. A team looking to you for direction. How do you stay ready when the chaos around you feels overwhelming? Leading in turbulent times requires grounded leaders who are ready to face modern challenges with strength, clarity, and purpose all while staying rooted in their values.

In this article, Jason Hanson, Director of the President’s Leadership Class at the University of Colorado Boulder, breaks down how grounded leadership can help you stay resilient under pressure, lead with confidence even in the unknown, and transform challenges into moments of growth.

“The more we use our strengths, the more meaning we can create in our work.”
– Ashish Kothari

What is Grounded Leadership and Why Does it Matter?

Rapid change and unpredictability has turned our world upside down. But with grounded leadership, you have an anchor and a solid foundation built on your values, beliefs, and strengths to guide yourself and others through uncertainty.

Why do we need grounded leaders now more than ever?

  • Traditional leadership systems and structures are failing to meet people’s needs
  • Society is more polarized, making it harder for people to collaborate effectively.
  • The rapid changes in the world demand leaders who can adapt with clarity and empathy.

Grounded leaders stand out because they:

  1. Stay true to their core beliefs and values, tested in real-world challenges.
  2. Lead with authenticity and empathy, focusing on people over power or profit.
  3. Build strong foundations that allow them to rise above chaos and inspire others to do the same.

“We live in volatile times. That’s why we need grounded leaders—people who deeply understand their beliefs, have tested them in real-world contexts, and bring a human element to their leadership.”
– Jason Hanson

How Grounded Leadership Drives High-Performing Organizations

Here’s how grounded leadership transforms teams and organizations: 

  1. Building trust in diverse teams – Modern teams are diverse and often polarized. Grounded leaders navigate these differences by acknowledging and respecting varying perspectives. They pay attention to both the spoken and unspoken needs of teams. By creating an environment of trust and respect, they enable collaboration and high performance. 
  2. Creating sustainable systems – Effective leaders don’t rely on their presence to keep the wheels turning. Grounded leadership establishes systems and practices that empower teams to make decisions and perform well independently. This autonomy drives both confidence and long-term success.
  3. Situational awareness and addressing needs – Grounded leaders actively listen to employee concerns, recognizing whether the team lacks resources, support, or motivation. By addressing these needs, they ensure that employees are equipped to perform at their best.
  4. Fostering meaningful engagement – When employees align their work with their strengths, they’re more engaged and effective. Grounded leaders help their teams find purpose in their work, driving motivation and organizational success.
  5. Measuring and adapting for results– By tracking metrics like employee satisfaction and retention, grounded leaders adjust their strategies for continuous improvement. Small, consistent changes compound over time to build thriving teams.

Effective Leadership Development Through Grounded Leadership

The only way leaders can adapt to the rapid change in the modern world is through leadership development. Leadership development is about creating leaders who are strong, adaptable, and rooted in purpose. Grounded leadership helps make this happen by focusing on two key things: building on strengths and meeting people where they are. 

  1. Situational leadership – Grounded leaders adapt their style based on individual needs. For beginners, they provide clear guidance and structure. As individuals grow, they evolve their approach to focus on coaching and collaboration.
  1. Strengths-based development – By focusing on natural talents, leaders unlock higher engagement and performance. Instead of trying to fit everyone into a single mold, they align roles with strengths, making work more meaningful and productive.

Leadership development is a two-way street. It’s as much about getting feedback from employees as it is about proactively improving yourself as a leader. Use these four key questions to encourage growth and alignment with your team:

  1. Where have I succeeded?
    What has gone well since our last meeting?
  2. Where have I struggled?
    Where have I felt stretched thin, depleted, or missed the mark?
  3. What help do I want from my manager?
    What support can help me focus on my work in the near term?
  4. How will I incorporate my strengths more?
    How can I make ongoing, intentional investments in bringing my best self to work and developing my strengths?

Grounded leadership ensures that leadership development isn’t just another training program but a meaningful, ongoing process that connects personal growth with organizational success. Leadership development that incorporates these grounded leadership principles creates resilient, high-performing teams that are ready to adapt to change and navigate challenges with confidence.

Conclusion

Uncertainty may rattle the world, but grounded leaders remain steadfast. They lead with purpose, act with clarity, and inspire progress even when the path ahead is unclear. Leaders who are anchored in their values, harness their strengths, and foster meaningful connections don’t just navigate through turbulent times, they shape the future and transform the outcomes. 

It’s time to lead with purpose and shape a future where uncertainty is no match for the strength of grounded leadership.

Discover how grounded leadership empowers you to lead with strength and clarity in uncertain times. Jason Hanson, Director of the President’s Leadership Class at the University of Colorado Boulder, shares insights on leveraging strengths to navigate change and build high-performing teams.

Learn more about Jason at his LinkedIn.

Listen to the podcast with Ashish and Jason below.

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