Leading Through Disruption: 10 Lessons from the Latest Tariff Shifts

Leadership Lessons Often Arrive In Unexpected Packages

Leadership lessons don’t always arrive neatly packaged. Sometimes, they emerge as breaking news—messy, high-stakes, and deeply human.

Lately, the ongoing tariff uncertainty has been one of those lessons. Watching market fluctuations, reading conflicting policy updates, and hearing from clients across industries has stirred more than economic concern; it’s triggered a deeper question: How do we lead well when the landscape keeps shifting?

As a transformational leadership coach, I’ve learned that uncertainty isn’t just a business challenge. It’s also a leadership crucible. And while I can’t control global trade policy, I can choose how I show up for others in the face of ambiguity. Disruption, as uncomfortable as it is, always holds a lesson.

The real lesson isn’t about trade—it’s about leadership.

When decisions lack clarity, alignment, or accountability, the consequences extend beyond spreadsheets. They impact trust, morale, and long-term performance.

Here are 10 leadership lessons I’ve taken from recent disruptions. Tariffs may be the backdrop, but the insights apply to every leader navigating uncertainty.

1. A Vision Alone Isn’t Enough

Leaders may have bold ideas, but momentum stalls unless people understand the vision and see how it connects to their work. A study by McKinsey found that organizations with clear, aligned goals are more than twice as likely to outperform peers.

Vision is a powerful force woven into decisions and conversations. Leaders bring it to life by making it clear, actionable, and connected to the work people do every day.

When people know where they’re headed and why it matters, they confidently move—even when the path isn’t smooth.

2. Values Are the Anchor in Unstable Times

When policy shifts feel abrupt or unpredictable, it’s easy for organizations to lose their footing. Leaders who are grounded in clearly expressed values provide much-needed stability.

Values act as both a compass and an anchor. They guide decisions, shape culture, and remind people what’s non-negotiable. When values lead, performance follows. Purpose-driven companies outperform others by 400% in long-term shareholder returns.

3. Patience Is a Strategic Advantage

Quick reactions may feel productive, but thoughtful responses drive better outcomes. As I watched businesses respond to the tariff news, the ones that paused to assess, gather data, and involve key stakeholders made stronger moves.

In a culture that rewards speed, patience can feel countercultural. However, leaders who take time to reflect make better decisions. Harvard Business Review research confirms that strategic patience leads to higher-quality leadership choices.

4. Think Beyond the Immediate

Tariffs implemented in one country can impact supply chains across the globe. The same principle holds in leadership. If made without a systems mindset, a single decision can create unnecessary friction or unintended consequences.

Great leaders think in terms of impact, not just intention. They consider who might be affected, what’s downstream, and how to minimize disruption while moving forward.

5. Transparency Builds Trust Faster Than Certainty

Uncertainty isn’t the real challenge—mixed signals are. Leaders who communicate openly, even when they don’t have all the answers, build trust faster than those who delay or deflect. One of the biggest frustrations surrounding trade policy changes hasn’t been the policies themselves but the lack of clear communication.

Leadership works the same way. When I don’t have all the answers, I’ve learned it’s best to say what I know and what I’m working to figure out. A report from Edelman shows that transparent leadership increases employee trust by 64%. People don’t expect perfection—they expect honesty.

6. Execution Matters as Much as Strategy

Vision gets the headlines: execution makes the difference.

According to the Harvard Business Review, 67% of well-formulated strategies fail because of poor execution. It’s not enough to plan—we have to follow through. I’ve seen leaders set bold goals, but without the discipline of consistent action and accountability, those goals remain just ideas.

7. Diversity of Thought Helps Us See What’s Coming

When leaders surround themselves with people who think like them, they increase the risk of blind spots. Disruptions like tariffs impact various industries, regions, and roles. Without a range of perspectives, it’s easy to miss the whole picture.

Diverse leadership teams are more likely to outperform on profitability and value creation. As a leader, I make it a point to listen to voices that challenge my assumptions. That’s where growth happens.

8. Emotions Are Data—Don’t Ignore Them

Uncertainty affects more than operations. It affects people. The American Psychological Association found that employees experiencing organizational change were more than twice as likely to report chronic work stress as those in stable environments.

Whether it’s fear of layoffs, anxiety about budgets, or concern over the unknown, disruption brings emotion. Ignoring that reality doesn’t make it go away. Acknowledging it builds a connection.

Emotions provide valuable insights. Leaders with strong emotional intelligence create space for empathy, clarity, and calm. That’s not weakness—it’s wisdom. It allows people to stay engaged and resilient, even during change.

9. Own the Outcomes, Even When They’re Hard

One of my most important lessons is that leadership isn’t always about being right. It’s about being responsible.

Trying to spin the story only erodes trust when decisions have unintended consequences. However, credibility is strengthened when a leader steps up, owns what happened, and charts a path forward.

Leaders who admit mistakes are rated significantly more competent and trustworthy than those who deflect blame. Leadership is about being accountable. People aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for integrity.

10. Behind Every Metric Is a Human Story

We talk about trade deficits, job losses, and GDP. But behind every number is a person—a business owner making tough choices, a worker wondering about job security, a family feeling the pinch.

Effective leadership is more than performance metrics. It’s imperative to remember the people those numbers represent. That perspective changes everything.

The Mindset That Carries Leaders Through Uncertainty

Disruption isn’t just a test of strategy. It’s a test of character. The tariff turbulence may not be over, but the lessons that surfaced are timeless. We don’t have to wait for certainty to lead with clarity. We don’t need perfect conditions to stay grounded in purpose and values.

Every leader will face uncertainty. What matters most is how we respond.

Transformational leaders thrive in uncertainty. They lead with clarity, confidence, and resilience, guiding their teams forward no matter the challenge. Disruption is inevitable.

The real question is: How will you lead through it?

Coming next week: What a palm tree taught me about leadership, resilience, and staying grounded—even when the winds of change start to blow.