The world feels a lot more scary

We can sense it in our conversations and see it on the socials.
Economic swings, mass layoffs, political upheaval and conflict seem to be everywhere lately.

But is this true or just a vibe?

The VIX, often called the “fear index” because it measures expected volatility in the S&P 500, is 14% higher than it was this time last year.

The Global Economic Policy Uncertainty Index, created by economists at Stanford, Northwestern and the University of Chicago, is up 42%.

And the Geopolitical Risk Index, developed by the Federal Reserve, is 30% higher and sits in the top 5% of its historical range.

So our intuition isn’t wrong.
The world really is shifting faster and in less predictable ways.

But many of our leadership habits were built for a steadier age.
They were designed for a world where you could plan ahead with confidence and expect the ground to hold still.
That world has faded.

So here are five leadership shifts I believe matter in the face of this uncertain world.

1.        Stay present.
Volatility creates noise and noise grabs attention.
When leaders chase every headline, they lose perspective.
Staying present is about pausing long enough to see what is real rather than reacting to every spike of anxiety.

2.        Create clarity when certainty is impossible.
Your team does not need predictions.
They need to know what matters this week, what does not and why.
Clarity becomes a form of steadiness.

3.        Shorten planning horizons while keeping long term purpose intact.
Annual plans set in stone make little sense in a fast moving world.
Long-term purpose still matters, but the path to get there needs room to adapt.

4.        Strengthen your relationships.
In unstable times the real safety net is trust.
Teams that listen, share openly and tell the truth early move faster and recover quicker.

5.        Look after you and your team’s wellbeing.
Fatigue exaggerates threat and narrows thinking.
Rest, movement and boundaries are not luxuries.
They are stabilisers that help you make better decisions.

None of this eliminates uncertainty.
But it does make us more able to move through it rather than be overwhelmed by it.

Which brings me back to those volatility charts.

The world may be noisier, but it is not unmanageable.
The key is how we show up within it.