At the Turning Point
Navigating Purpose in a Time of Uncertainty
Interview with Girish Menon - In an era marked by volatility, uncertainty, and profound global shifts, leadership is being redefined. In this candid conversation, Girish Menon reflects on four decades in the social justice sector, offering deep insights into navigating purpose, values, and resilience amidst disruption. As he prepares to step into a new role in higher education, he shares the lessons, challenges, and evolving beliefs that have shaped his leadership journey.
In a world where uncertainty has always been constant, what helps you stay true to your purpose ?
Ever since I began my career 40 years ago, I cannot recall a time when the environment was peaceful or stable. There has always been volatility—socio-economic, political, cultural, and natural disasters—posing challenges to leaders of the day. The intensity, causes, and impact may differ across countries and communities, but volatility has been a constant, just as change is constant. It is therefore more realistic to accept this reality and shape our leadership responses to today’s uncertainties.
In the past 5 years, debates have centered on the 3 C’s—Covid, Conflict, and Climate Change. Their global impact spares no one but hits poorer countries and communities hardest. Alongside troubling geopolitics, these trends have deepened a sense of crisis. Yet progress is evident: millions lifted from poverty, more children immunized, lower maternal mortality, wider education access (especially for girls), greater mobility, a stronger voice for emerging economies, and more distributed communications and technology. Despite risks of human rights and democracy being rolled back, the gains remain substantial.
Leaders often find themselves in the vortex of these shifts, surprised and at times helpless. Yet I have also seen positive leadership traits emerge in navigating purpose during uncertainty:
- Focus on the goal and mission: Staying on course with a clear moral compass.
- Focus on values: Integrity, respect, accountability, courage, and learning guide judgment and decisions.
- Focus on what is in one’s control: Define your sphere of control and influence, and don’t waste energy beyond it.
- Focus on self-belief: In crises like Covid, leaders can restore calm and safety, rooted in self-awareness and self-care.
- Focus on well-being: Stress and anxiety are inevitable, making it vital to prioritize well-being—time off and recharging are not luxuries but necessities.
How can budding leaders balance purpose with the pressures of livelihood and change?
I would plainly say – the choice is yours to make. You cannot have it all. That would be too unrealistic and too superhuman an effort. I have seen plenty of cases of burnout when one is not able to balance these demands well. I have seen pressures of amassing personal wealth come in the way of pursuing one’s purpose in life (and all the guilt feelings associated with that). I have seen people chasing career goals and changing their purpose and value systems in a very chameleon-like manner, without any sense of integrity. No one, externally, can get the balance right for you. As a budding leader, that is the choice you need to make. What would you pursue in terms of your personal goals and why ?
How do you process fear or uncertainty, especially during pivots or high-stakes decisions ?
The feeling of fear and uncertainty are real, especially in taking crucial decisions. There are a few questions I ask myself, such as: Have I consulted those that I need to consult? Have I heeded to advice that I consider valuable and relevant? Do I really think that this is the right thing to do and that I am not driven by my personal ambitions? Have I really considered what could possibly go wrong and taken steps to mitigate them? Will I take full accountability of the consequences of the decisions I take? This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but the point I am trying to make is that there is a lot of consideration in the ‘hinterland’ to taking a decision and a realization of that helps me with navigating fear and uncertainty. Of course, things can still go horribly wrong, and that is also a good realization to have.
Who or what has helped you most in staying rooted through storms – mentors, books, silence?
All of them, I suppose. My North Star is my sense of purpose. The real question is how to stay focused on it amidst turbulence. Self-conversations help but rarely resolve everything. I lean on mentors and professional peers, as well as a wide network of trusted friends, to share dilemmas in a safe space. These exchanges often provide reality checks and perspectives from similar challenges. Books, articles, talks, and seminars broaden my view, while reflecting on what worked and what didn’t is invaluable. Above all, I remind myself not to take life too seriously. I make time for fun, downtime, and activities I enjoy—even in the middle of critical issues—as that keeps me refreshed and calm.
A line or phrase that encapsulates your leadership style
This is borrowed from Maya Angelou - ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel’ .
Girish, your insights remind us that leadership isn’t about avoiding uncertainty, but about finding purpose within it. Thank you for leaving us with such a powerful perspective.