Uncertainty. It’s everywhere.
Whether it's a shifting marketplace, changes in your organization, or even the everyday unknowns of life, we all face uncertainty — often more than we’d like. And when we do, it’s easy to feel anxious, frustrated, unsettled… even scared.
If you're a leader (and even if you're not), these feelings can get in the way of being your best — for yourself and for those you lead. That’s why I want to talk about how we can find a sense of safety in the midst of uncertainty.
The Passive Trap
When we don’t know what’s coming, our most common responses tend to be passive. I’ve seen it in others, and I’ve done it myself. Maybe you recognize these behaviors:
- Withdrawal – the old “wait and see” approach
- Denial – pretending the uncertainty isn’t really there
- Overthinking – obsessing over every scenario without moving forward
- Paralysis – analysis turns into inaction
- Worry – which drains our energy without solving a thing
While all of these are perfectly human, they don’t move us forward. And in leadership, standing still often isn’t an option.
Moving from Passive to Proactive
So what should we do instead?
We shift to a proactive mindset. That doesn’t mean we eliminate uncertainty (we can’t), but we can learn to navigate it better. In my book, Flexible Leadership: Navigate Uncertainty and Lead with Confidence, I explore four proactive behaviors that help us move forward in the face of the unknown:
1. Gather Information
Start by learning. Seek out facts. Ask questions. Explore different viewpoints. The more we know, the better equipped we are to deal with what’s coming — even if we don’t have the full picture yet.
2. Be Curious
Curiosity is a leadership superpower. It encourages exploration, innovation, and growth. When we’re curious, we’re open to learning and less likely to be paralyzed by fear. Follow your questions down new alleys — you might be surprised by what you discover.
3. Test and Try
When situations are uncertain or complex, the best approach isn’t a grand plan — it’s a small experiment. Try something. Learn from it. Adjust. Then try again. You’re not committing to a full strategy; you’re simply making progress.
4. Look for Patterns
History doesn’t repeat itself exactly, but it does leave clues. If you’ve been through something similar before, what helped you then? What can you take from the past to help you make better decisions now?
The Real Key: Flexibility
Here’s the truth: Uncertainty will always be part of leadership — and life. We don’t eliminate it, we navigate it.
The most important skill to help you through uncertainty is flexibility — the willingness and ability to adjust your approach, rethink your assumptions, and keep moving forward even when things aren’t clear.
When things around you are uncertain, being willing and able to flex and adapt your approach is your most important skill.
Stay curious. Stay flexible. Keep moving.
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