There is much doomsday talk amid the global economic slowdown but managers should look at turbulent times for what they are: opportunities. There needs to be a fundamental change of mindset in how business leaders approach tumultuous times. Semantics do matter, so let’s begin by eliminating the term “crisis management” and replace it with “unexpected opportunity management”.

Leading in turbulent times requires optimism. The world is constantly changing during good and bad economic times and managers need to have an appetite for rapid change. Managers who lack that mindset should be doing something other than leading a business unit within an organisation.