Why Do Leaders Resist Leading in Times of Disruption?
Change is hard. Even for experienced leaders.
When disruption hits—whether it’s economic shifts, organizational restructuring, or industry upheaval—it’s easy to want to play it safe, wait for clarity, or hope things settle down. But here’s the truth: avoiding leadership during uncertainty doesn’t protect you. It weakens your influence and leaves your team feeling directionless.
So why do leaders resist stepping up in these moments?
Fear of Getting It Wrong
The stakes feel high, and making the “wrong” move seems riskier than doing nothing. But inaction is a decision—one that can cost you credibility.
Lack of Clear Answers
You might feel like you need a perfect plan before acting. But leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about navigating uncertainty with clarity and conviction.
Emotional Overload
Disruption creates stress, and when you’re overwhelmed, leading can feel exhausting. The key is learning to manage your own capacity so you can show up for your team.
Concern About Pushback
Change makes people uncomfortable, and as a leader, you might hesitate because you don’t want to be the one delivering tough messages. But avoiding conflict won’t make it go away.
From a neuroscience perspective, resistance to change is deeply wired into our brains. The amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for detecting threats, interprets uncertainty as danger. This triggers a stress response, releasing cortisol and making us feel anxious or hesitant.
However, when leaders take small, intentional actions despite this discomfort, they engage the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for problem-solving and decision-making. Over time, this rewires the brain to become more comfortable with uncertainty, allowing leaders to build resilience and adaptability.
So what’s the shift? Instead of waiting for the “right” time to lead, recognize that now is the right time. Your team needs presence, not perfection.
The more you embrace discomfort, the stronger and more trusted you become as a leader.
Leadership Practice
The 10-Second Reset
Next time you feel yourself resisting stepping up, try this:
Pause and take a deep breath.
Ask yourself: “What’s the smallest step I can take right now?”
Act on it immediately.
Leading through disruption doesn’t require giant leaps—just consistent forward motion.
About Athena
Athena Williams, Founder and CEO of Tenacious Leadership Institute, has been supporting leaders worldwide to become more tenacious for over 20 years. She has found that tenacity is the key to sustained leadership success in today’s ever-changing world. Through her coaching and leadership development programs, she helps leaders expertly handle change, complexity and other challenges so they can quickly get better results for themselves, their teams and their organizations. Take the first step to becoming a tenacious leader by scheduling a call with us.
