Not always so: The cycles of senior teams

All senior leadership teams experience a rhythm of inevitable ups and downs. No matter how well we plan, the journey of leading together is never a straight, steady path. Instead, it moves in cycles—times of clarity and times of confusion, moments of harmony and moments of tension.

The Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki captured this idea in three simple words: "Not always so." Even when we understand this intellectually, we’re still caught off guard when stability slips away. We long for smooth sailing, forgetting that change isn’t just a future possibility—it’s happening right now, quietly reshaping us in the process.

So why do we keep expecting things to stay stable? It’s human nature—we crave certainty. But leading effectively means accepting that leadership is more like riding the waves than walking on solid ground. The best teams don’t fight these cycles; they learn how to move with them.

René Daumal, a French writer, offers this wisdom to assist us:

"You cannot stay on the summit forever. You have to come down again… One climbs and one sees; one descends and one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself… by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one no longer sees, one can at least still know."

For senior leadership teams, this means that the insights we gain during times of clarity and alignment shouldn’t be forgotten when things get messy. The key is to carry those insights forward into the challenging moments, using them to guide us when things feel uncertain.

We recently worked with a leadership team going through a major organisational change. At first, there was excitement and a shared sense of purpose. The team was aligned, motivated, and clear about where they’re headed. But as they moved into the reality of implementation, complications arose. Priorities shifted. Conflicts emerged. The once-clear vision felt blurry.

It wasn’t the first time I’d seen this happen.

The teams that best navigate these challenges aren’t the ones that try to force stability or ignore the turbulence. They’re the ones that remember—they hold onto the lessons from their "summit" moments and use them as a guide when the path ahead is unclear.

Practical ways to navigate cycles

There is an art of conducting oneself Says Daumal. Conducting oneself through the troughs as well as the peaks. Here then is the true challenge of leadership. So if your team finds itself in a period of uncertainty, here are four practical steps to help you move through it:

1. Pause and reflect
   • Set aside regular time as a team to reflect on what you’ve learned during periods of clarity. What worked well? What values or principles guided your success? Document these insights so they’re accessible when things become unclear.
   • Practical tip: Schedule quarterly "reflexive" sessions to look back over the past few months to capture key learnings and ensure they inform future decisions.
2. Communicate openly
   • Acknowledge the natural cycle of leadership—share openly that periods of challenge don’t mean failure; they’re part of the process.
   • Create a culture where team members feel comfortable voicing concerns and uncertainties without fear.
   • Practical tip: Start leadership meetings with a quick check-in where each person shares one challenge and one recent learning.
3. Shift to learning
   • Instead of striving for a constant sense of control, shift your mindset to one of continuous learning. Each "descent" brings new insights that make your team stronger and more adaptable.
   • Practical tip: After a tough period, debrief as a team. What did you learn? What would you do differently next time?
4. Strengthen team resilience
   • Strong teams don’t just survive transitions—they use them to grow. Focus on deepening relationships, building trust, and fostering a sense of shared purpose.
   • Practical tip: Invest in informal team-building activities, even during busy times. A coffee chat or a team offsite can strengthen bonds that help carry you through future challenges.

Leadership isn’t about keeping things steady all the time. It’s about learning how to navigate the shifts—rising, falling, and rising again.

So when your team finds itself in a moment of uncertainty, remember Daumal’s words. Even when clarity fades, the memory of what you’ve seen from the summit remains. And if you hold onto that, you’ll find your way forward—together.