Why Are CEOs Anxious and What Can They Do to Cope?

It’s Spring 2025, and a common theme I’m seeing among the CEOs I coach is: Everyone is anxious. The series of tariffs announced and implemented by our government have left business leaders bracing for changes in business costs, sales, and staffing needs. 

We are in interesting times. For some, that means uncertainty or fear. But I choose to take the word at face value. I'm interested and deeply curious about what’s changing, what’s next, and how we can shape success in the midst of it all.

And here’s the truth: now is the time to rethink your strategy.

Yes, it’s tempting to batten down the hatches and ride out the storm. But the companies that thrive in volatile markets are those that adapt early. As your business landscape shifts, your strategy must evolve - or risk becoming irrelevant.

Let’s break down how to craft Winning Moves that will drive success, no matter the climate.

Knowledge Is Power, and AI Is Powerful

Even if you have been in business for a long time, you may have never experienced an economic situation like the present moment. But there’s no need to dig up the history books! Save time and get straight to key information by using ChatGPT. 

Here are a couple of prompts to get you started:

• What trends should we anticipate in the [industry type] industry in light of the new tariffs?
• How could the new tariffs potentially impact a business like mine? (Provide details like your company’s industry, core product offerings, size, location, and revenue.)

If the information ChatGPT provides isn’t rich enough, keep prompting. Approach this like a real conversation with an expert, not like a Google search. Of course, be responsible with the answers you get; check multiple sources and validate the findings. 

AI won’t predict the future—but it can summarize what’s happening and surface trends faster than you can Google. Just remember: validate what you learn and triangulate with trusted sources. Use AI to build a smarter starting point.

Brainstorm and Rank Your Winning Moves

With new information in mind, start to draft your Winning Moves. If you are not familiar with this concept: A Winning Move is a strategic growth strategy that could potentially double your company’s revenue in 3-5 years. 

As your leadership team collaborates and brainstorms, you will create a list of growth ideas for your Winning Moves. Narrow down your options by ranking each idea. The best Winning Moves rank highly on both impact and your team’s ability to execute. Anything with low impact is not a Winning Move. Use a quadrant chart—like the one provided in Rhythm—to map where your ideas fall:

Ideas that fit comfortably within the upper right quadrant are the best to pursue. If you have an idea that is high on impact but low on ability to execute, it can also be a Winning Move—but it is going to be expensive. Consider if it is the right commitment for your company at this time, especially if you are anticipating economic challenges. 

You must select and commit to just a small handful of Winning Moves. Committing to no more than three will give you focus. Otherwise, you can lose track of what is most important, strain your team’s bandwidth, and fail to achieve any of these goals. Remember: Overeating from the buffet of opportunities only causes indigestion.

Polish, Publish, and Execute with Clarity

Discuss and debate with your team until you can agree on your Winning Moves. Then, fine-tune them. How long do you anticipate each initiative to take? What will the business look like at the end of that time if you are able to execute successfully? Visualize success, then craft Red Yellow Green Success Criteria for each Winning Move so that everyone understands the target outcomes and can row in the same direction.

Once you have officially established your Winning Moves, share them with the whole company. Communicating your vision will help the greater team feel inspired and united. Sharing a dream gives your people a “why” behind their work. It is a powerful motivator.  

Finally, cascade your Winning Moves into annual and quarterly plans. Break each down into milestones and assign ownership to ensure accountability.

The Best Time to Act is Now

Yes, these are interesting times…but do not let uncertainty trigger your fight or flight response. Take a deep breath, equip yourself with knowledge, and think strategically. Meet the present moment and respond to it. 

Finally, remember that you are not in this alone. Many brains are better than one, so invite your team to contribute to your strategic discussions. 

My life’s work is helping CEOs on their journeys. If you need expert coaching, check out what we offer at Rhythm Systems. We would love to walk beside you.