Leading through the Collapse
Leading through the Collapse
Collapse isn’t coming. It’s here.
Systems are cracking, trust is fraying, and the rules that once gave us certainty no longer hold.
In times like this, leaders have a choice: reach for control, or lean into clarity.
This week, I’m writing about how accountability – done right – becomes a powerful way to lead through collapse, not just survive it.
Are you ready to hold your ground while everything else shifts?
Listen here
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The ground is shifting. Globally, nationally, and right beneath our feet.
From geopolitical conflict to climate shocks, AI acceleration to institutional distrust, we’re not just navigating change – we’re living through collapse. What’s breaking isn’t just process or policy. It’s the frameworks we relied on to make sense of the world.
And that collapse isn’t abstract. It’s showing up in your team’s performance.
In stalled decisions. In silos and shutdowns. In good people running on empty. Just last week, a leader said to me, “I feel like I’m holding a team together with duct tape and good intentions.” It wasn’t said as a throwaway line. It was said with tired eyes and a full heart. And it’s not uncommon.
The ground is shifting. And when it does, the instinct is to grip tighter and reach for control. But here’s the paradox: control gives the illusion of certainty, while draining the energy we need to move forward.
What if the answer isn’t control, but accountability?
Most people associate accountability with consequences. But in truth, it’s about clarity.
Accountability done right is the quiet force that holds teams together when everything else is coming apart.
It gives people a clear sense of what’s theirs to own… and what’s not.
That clarity doesn’t just prevent chaos. It sustains performance.
It’s what keeps our edge sharp when the systems around us start to fail.
What Accountability Creates in Times of Collapse
I’ve seen it across industries, leadership levels, and pressure points. Accountability – done right – offers:
- Clarity in confusion
People know what matters most and where to focus. Fewer assumptions, more traction. - Confidence to act
With clear ownership, people step up. No spinning wheels. No hiding. - Boundaries that protect energy
No one carries what’s not theirs. High performers stop over-functioning. Teams stay sustainable. - Progress that builds trust
When things move, even slightly, people believe again. That’s how we rebuild hope and trust in what’s possible. - Relationships that hold
Feedback becomes human. Conversations stay open, even when the stakes are high.
What This Looks Like on the Ground
We’re not talking about theoretical leadership.
We’re talking about the conversations in the corridor that shift a whole team dynamic.
The moment a leader says “this is mine, that’s yours” and everything gets lighter.
The decision to choose partnership over performance policing.
This is the kind of leadership that sustains through collapse, because it doesn’t depend on stability, it depends on ownership.
Here’s the truth:
We don’t need more control. We need stronger containers.
Accountability, done right, is the container that holds performance, trust, and human dignity – especially when everything else is falling away.
Let’s stop managing the chaos. Let’s start leading through it.
If you want to create this kind of clarity and resilience in your team or organisation, I’d love to help. It’s the work we do in the Own It Academy and through keynotes, mentoring and strategic advisory.
