Leading Through Uncertainty

RAY DAVIS is president and CEO of Umpqua Holdings Corporation, parent company of Umpqua Bank. He has been recognized in numerous national publications, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Fast Company, BusinessWeek, Newsweek, and CNBC, and is the author of Leading for Growth (Jossey-Bass). Davis has been recognized as one of high finance's twenty-five most influential people by U.S. Banker Magazine. He lives with his wife in Portland, Oregon.

“Ray and his colleagues have remained true to their values, their belief system, their distinctive point of view about what their company could be and the role it could play in their customers’ lives. In a book filled with powerful insights, pragmatic takeaways, and colorful stories, this to me is Ray’s ultimate lesson, and one that applies in good times and tough times.”—From the Foreword by William C. Taylor“I’ve always believed that great leaders know when to stay the course, adjust, and reinvent. Ray Davis articulates this and much more in Leading Through Uncertainty, helping leaders understand the importance of outlining a vision and strategy. Ray’s smart and practical thoughts on leadership provide great insight, and leaders at all levels will benefit from reading this book.”—John Chambers, chairman and CEO, Cisco“Ray Davis understands the complexities of leading effectively regardless of the economic environment. The advice in Leading Through Uncertainty is excellent and will improve both your leadership skills and results.”— Tim Boyle, president and CEO, Columbia Sportswear“Ray Davis’s Leading Through Uncertainty is thoughtful, insightful, and—perhaps most importantly—fundamentally practical. For those who want to make a difference in their organization, this is a must-read.”—Diana Oreck, vice president, Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center“Not many companies can say they’ve emerged from the economic environment of the past few years stronger than they were before it began. Ray Davis can. In Leading Through Uncertainty, he shares the real-world insight and business practices that today’s leaders need to navigate the uncertainty and opportunity of the 21st century economy.”—Gary Hamel, author, What Matters Now“Ray Davis is that rare combination: a visionary with the straightforward voice of a pragmatist. He understands that today’s companies must be flexible, transparent, and customer-centric—and Leading Through Uncertainty provides a clear roadmap for anyone in a leadership position on how to get there.”—Ed Herlihy, partner, Wachtell Lipton

• Foreword by William C. Taylor ixIntroduction: The Great Uncertainty xiiiPart 1 Leading YourselfChapter 1: The New Normal 3Chapter 2: The Truth, Nothing But the Truth 23Chapter 3: Problems and the Healing Process 39Chapter 4: Control and Uncertainty 51Chapter 5: Exercise Your Intuition 65Part 2 Leading Your OrganizationChapter 6: Be Really Good at the Basics 81Chapter 7: The Value of a Value Proposition 91Chapter 8: Be Available 103Chapter 9: Motivate and Inspire 113Chapter 10: Leverage Your Assets 125Part 3 Leading the WayChapter 11: Reputation Counts 137Chapter 12: Create Buzz (But Manage Crisis) 147Chapter 13: Build Momentum 161Chapter 14: Practice Incremental Evolution 171Conclusion: Lead On 181Notes 185Acknowledgments 191About the Authors 193Index 195