Stability ≠ Stagnation.
I’d like to kill a myth that keeps too many leaders I’ve met stuck: Stability and stagnation are not the same thing.
Sometimes we act like they are.
We think being grounded means being slow.
Or, anchoring ourselves means clinging to the past.
And, holding a steady pace means resisting momentum.
But, the most impactful leaders I know are deeply stable. And, surprisingly extremely agile.
You see, they don’t confuse movement with progress.
They don’t chase every shiny opportunity.
They don’t live at the mercy of noise, pressure, urgency or the latest fad.
They move when it’s time.
And, until then, they hold.
They hold the line. They hold the mission. They hold themselves accountable. They hold everyone together.
That’s real leadership.
Especially, in a season of change.
Change doesn’t always require reinvention.
Sometimes it requires stillness.
Your team doesn’t need more hustle.
They need more clarity.
They don’t need new slogans.
They need to believe that you are grounded. Anchored. And, stable.
Because when things get uncertain, they look to you.
Not just for vision, but for presence.
For tone.
For calm.
For rhythm.
Your nervous system sets the tempo. (You might want to reread that last sentence a time or three).
If you’re chaotic, they’ll scatter.
If you’re anxious, they’ll spin.
If you’re grounded, they’ll settle into a healthy rhythm, too.
That’s your power. Not your title. Not your equity. Not your strategy. Your centeredness, my friend. That’s what stabilizes you and them in times of change.
So what’s holding you steady right now?
Not in a “how do you self-care” kind of way.
I mean really.
What’s keeping you clear? Anchored? Awake?
If your answer is, “I don’t know,” that’s your homework.
Because, the truth is: you can’t guide others through change if you’re constantly losing yourself in it.
Stability isn’t about control.
It’s about internal alignment.
It’s the result of daily discipline. The practices that ground you. Especially, when things move fast.
It could be journaling every morning.
Or, walking without your phone.
Or, talking with someone (like me) who tells you the truth.
Or, staying committed to a weekly rhythm that reconnects you to the why.
Whatever it is, build it.
Then nurture and protect it.
Because, if you don’t have a few grounding practices, you’ll default to reactive patterns.
And reactive leaders? They burn out.
And, even worse, they build teams that burn out with them.
The future is uncertain.
But, your presence doesn’t have to be.
This week, stop looking for stability in the market, the roadmap, or the team. Start cultivating it in yourself.
Because you are the constant your team needs right now.
They’ll follow your conviction.
They’ll feel your calm.
They’ll trust your tone.
And, if you’re scattered, they’ll feel that too.
Try this:
Before you rush into this week’s sprint, ask yourself:
What’s one practice that keeps me grounded, and how often am I doing it?
What rhythms help me reset mentally and emotionally every day?
When do I feel most clear, and how can I create more of that?
Then choose one thing you’ll commit to protecting this week.
Not for optics.
For presence.
Stability doesn’t mean standing still.
It means knowing who you are when everything around you shifts.
This week’s reflection:
What practices are keeping me grounded right now?
You don’t need to go faster.
You need to go deeper.
Build your base.
Anchor your presence.
Lead from the inside out.
That’s how you stay steady in the storm.
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Steve Knox | Carmel
\\\ Three weeks to go in this little series on Leading through Change. I hope it’s hitting you in the right moment, and in the right way. Please share it with the folks in your orbit. Until next week. Be honest. Be you. Much love.