Laying Track While the Train’s Moving: 5 Leadership Lessons

You’ve probably heard the phrase laying track while the train is moving. If you’re in a leadership role right now, that’s not a metaphor—it’s your daily reality. And while the business landscape shifts beneath you, your team is looking to you for direction, reassurance, and momentum.

Laying track while the train is coming without flying off the rails

You can’t hit pause when the wind shifts. Leading through change is like piloting a hang glider mid-flight and realizing the landscape below has changed—your landing zone is gone, the air is rough, and you’re running out of altitude. There’s no option to stop and regroup; you have to adjust in real time. Your instincts sharpen. You scan the horizon for new lift, shift your weight, and make fast decisions with incomplete information. It’s exhilarating—and terrifying. But staying airborne depends on your ability to act decisively while staying calm under pressure. That’s the kind of leadership your team needs now.

Try these 5 smart moves:

• Communicate frequently—even if you don’t have all the answers. Silence creates more fear than imperfection.
• Name what’s changing and what’s staying steady. It helps your team find footing.
• Empower decision-making at all levels. When the track is being built live, you need more hands on deck.
• Keep your eyes on the horizon. Help your team see the bigger vision beyond the chaos.
• Take care of the crew. Burnout builds fast in a fast-moving environment—watch for it and respond.

Leading through change means learning to build, balance, and boost all at once. It’s tough, but it’s also a powerful proving ground. You don’t have to wait for perfect conditions—you just need the right mindset and tools. I help leaders find lift even when the runway is still under construction. You haven’t peaked yet!