The Courage to Change Course - When Should Good Leaders Change Course

Leadership Horizons

Every leader faces moments when the path forward becomes unclear. Should you stay committed to your current course or pivot to a new direction? This question lies at the heart of what I call "the consistency paradox" – a leadership challenge that has kept countless executives awake at night.

Drawing on my 25 years of executive coaching experience across diverse sectors, I share the story of Sarah, a director who perfectly illustrates this dilemma. After two years building consensus for a major digital transformation and six months into implementation, market shifts made her strategy increasingly problematic. Like many leaders, she feared changing course would betray the trust of her team and stakeholders. This fear reveals a critical misunderstanding about leadership consistency.

Through working with hundreds of senior leaders, I've identified five clear signals that indicate when changing direction represents wisdom rather than weakness:

When fundamental assumptions have changed;

When you receive consistent feedback about missing something critical;

When continuing costs more than changing;

When your team signals distress, and;

When new information reveals better alternatives.

Each signal requires what I call "intelligent uncertainty" – being confident enough to lead while humble enough to pivot when evidence demands it. But knowing when to change course is only half the challenge.

The real leadership test comes in how you execute that pivot without destroying trust and momentum. I offer a practical framework for this transition:

Completely owning the decision;

Communicating the why before the what;

Honoring past investments, and;

Creating genuine enthusiasm for the new direction.

These steps transform potentially devastating changes into opportunities for organizational growth and renewed commitment. The strongest leaders aren't those who never change course, but those who choose the right course repeatedly as circumstances evolve. If you're navigating uncertain terrain in your leadership journey, this episode provides both the permission and the practical tools to pivot with purpose and confidence.

Subscribe to Leadership Horizons for more insights and join me next week when we'll explore another crucial aspect of building trust in leadership.

Leadership Horizons - Helping You Lead Beyond Boundaries

Chapters

1. The Consistency Paradox in Leadership (00:00:00)

2. Five Key Indicators to Change Course (00:02:18)

3. Framework for Successful Pivots (00:04:41)

4. The Courage to Be Wrong (00:07:13)

5. Challenge and Next Episode Preview (00:08:32)