Crisis, whether personal or professional, can feel overwhelming. But crises are always the birthplace of reinvention. It’s through them that we can RISE and innovate for greater success. South Africa’s USA tariff crisis is a good example. As one door closes, others will open, are you ready?

Here are four essential actions to help you navigate this and any crisis. 

R – Reflect: 
Pause. Take a deep breath and reflect. Crisis forces us to stop the busyness and ask the hard questions: What really matters here? What is the opportunity that this crisis presents? Sometimes it takes a little while to move through shock and pain to this point, but be patient. Reflection reconnects us to intuitive wisdom and clarifies what needs to be adjusted. 

I – Innovate: 
Challenge always creates new opportunity. Is this time to pivot the business model, change a personal habit or redesign a daily routine? What adjustments do you need to move forward? It doesn’t need to be massive. Sometimes, the smallest shifts have the biggest impact. What new opportunities have arisen from this crisis?

S – Step up: 
Step up with one clear goal and an action plan. Leadership is deciding which direction you are heading. 

E – Empower: 
Reach out for connection. Build resilience together. Crisis can deepen our leadership and extend influence if we empower others in the process. 

When we Reflect, Innovate, Step up  and Empower, we can RISE over this and future crises, do not crash into them. 

Whether you’re leading a team, building a business, or navigating personal change, the RISE approach will help you quickly move through to a new and better future. 

I’d love to hear from you: What’s helped you rise through a crisis? And how are you preparing to rise through this tariff challenge?