Leading with Certainty in Uncertain Times: A Lesson from Major General Laura Clellan

Last week, I had the honor of speaking at the Women Veterans Engage Conference - Colorado Springs, a powerful gathering of women committed to leadership, service, and purpose.

During a panel discussion, Major General Laura Clellan, the Adjutant General, Colorado, shared a leadership insight that deeply resonated with me. Paraphrasing her wisdom:

"There are always going to be changes, but I lead with certainty and predictability. I tell my team that I'll handle what comes down, but my expectations are clear: they have a job to do, and they're equipped to do it well."

As someone who frequently speaks about the SCARF model (Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, Fairness), I was struck by how her approach so naturally activates a reward response in the brain, primarily through the lens of certainty and autonomy.

In times of ambiguity, people don't need all the answers. But they do need clarity. They need a steady hand. They need to know what won't change: your expectations, your confidence in them, and your role as their leader.

Major General Clellan didn't just offer a leadership tip; she modeled psychological safety in action. And that's what builds resilient, high-performing teams.

At Level Up Enterprises, we help leaders create that same sense of certainty, trust, and alignment—especially in hybrid or rapidly changing work environments. Using neuroscience-backed frameworks like SCARF, we design leadership programs that shift culture, boost engagement, and empower teams to thrive.

Ready to build a more resilient, connected, and inspired workforce?

Let's talk. Visit www.lvluptalent.com or message me directly on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracidanna/)

#LeadershipDevelopment #WomenVeterans #SCARFModel #TeamEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #LevelUpLeadership #LevelUpEnterprises

Panel Discussion (L-R) Major General Linda Urratia-Varhall, USAF (Ret.), Major General Laura Clellan, Adjutant General, Colorado, USA, CMSgt Gay Veale, USAF (Ret.) and CMSgt Stacy Wilfong, USAFR (Ret.)