Somewhere on the Yentna River, I was breaking trail with a dog team in whiteout conditions. No landmarks. No horizon. Just blowing snow.

In those moments, leadership isn’t about having a perfect map. It’s about trust. It’s about pacing. It’s about adaptability.

Out there, I couldn’t rely on GPS alone. I had to read the subtle cues in the snow, the wind, and my dogs. Leadership—on the trail and in business, often comes down to how you act when the clear path vanishes.

Here’s what I did that day:

1. Trusted my lead dog to feel the trail under the snow
2. Even without a visible path, my lead dog, Sidney, could sense the firm snow packed beneath the drifts. I relied on her instincts to guide the way forward.
3. Watched the team’s energy and adjusted pace before fatigue set in
4. Pushing too hard would burn out the team before we reached our destination. I slowed down when I saw the first signs of strain.
5. Focused on the next hundred yards, not the next hundred miles
6. Thinking too far ahead in those conditions would have been paralyzing. Instead, I concentrated on the next short stretch, one decision at a time.

The Leadership Lesson

In business, uncertainty feels the same. The forecast shifts, the market changes. A competitor makes an unexpected move. The map you thought you had no longer matches the terrain.

In those moments:

• Trust the people and systems you’ve built to sense changes before you do.
• Adjust your team’s pace to prevent burnout.
• Focus on the next immediate win, not the whole journey.

Great leadership is not about waiting for perfect clarity—it’s about moving forward even when you can’t see the horizon.

Your Turn

How do you lead when the path ahead is invisible?

If you would like to explore how these trail-tested leadership strategies can work for your business or team, schedule a strategy call today. Together, we can chart the next hundred yards confidently.