Leaders consistently share with me that managing ambiguity is an underdeveloped skill in many professionals today. Considering the rapid pace of change in our world, growth-minded professionals must prioritize adaptability to thrive.
Managing ambiguity means we are able to maintain forward momentum when circumstances are changing and uncertain. It involves managing our plans, communication, and emotions even in the absence of clarity. Ambiguity can leave us feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or resentful. However, with perspective-expanding strategies, we can develop greater self-awareness and navigate uncertainty more effectively.
Ambiguous situations abound, and self-awareness can help us explore strategies for the unknown. In the face of ambiguity, self-awareness allows us to build resilience by:
• recognizing our own gaps and limitations,
• leveraging our strengths and life experiences,
• noticing our inner dialogue and personal health,
• reframing setbacks and challenges,
• asking questions and exploring new approaches and perspectives, and
• communicating with steadiness and a balanced outlook.
In this post, I’ll offer a few ideas to help you make progress leveraging self-awareness amidst the "change churn".
Leverage Your Team
You may feel unprepared to tackle ambiguity, but you’re not alone. In fact, there is so much disruptive change that NO ONE has experienced before. Being open about your insecurities, can make you more confident around others or they may have more experience with the situation and be able to offer insight. Take advantage of this collective knowledge. Organize an information session to help you feel more grounded, ask questions to gain deeper insights, and consider forming a peer group to gain fresh perspectives. Collaboration can help you gain confidence to move forward together.
Start with What You Know
Instead of fixating on what you don’t know and the newness of it all, start by acknowledging what you do know. Creating a list of factors known to you can be a helpful exercise. Analyze the data you do have. Be mindful, though to not get stuck in these past experiences or assumptions. Once you know what you know, you can start to identify the unknowns. While you remain in unfamiliar territory, you can now begin to identify resources or actions that expand your skills and current understanding to help close remaining gaps. Grounding yourself in what you know keeps you open to exploring, discovering, and growing through the unknown.
Calm Your Nerves by Shifting Your Mindset
Feeling uncomfortable in uncertain situations is totally normal. When anxiety creeps in, notice your thoughts and evaluate whether they are fact or fiction. If they’re fictional worries, take a few deep breaths then consciously move past the unnecessary stress. If your thoughts are rooted in fact, try reframing the situation by considering it from another perspective. For example, think about how someone in a different role, timeline, or with alternate success metrics might view the challenge. This broader perspective can help you assess the appropriate level of caution and determine your next steps.
Embrace the Learning Opportunity
Fear of failure or making mistakes prevents many of us from seeing the potential for growth. Embracing ambiguity often leads to valuable lessons about the business, your team, and yourself. Growth is almost always on the other side of our fears. Make a recommendation and start moving in that direction, taking a risk can be freeing for you and those around you. By shifting your focus from perfection to learning, you can have the courage to make a recommendation and confidently adjust when your recommendation hits a snag.
Stay Curious
When change feels relentless and resentment starts to build, staying curious can help. Listen actively, ask thoughtful questions, and maintain a solution-oriented outlook. Counterintuitively, answer fewer questions so that others can participate in the curiosity and so that you can spot patterns in others' ideas. It's beneficial to rethink your initial stance as you gather perspectives. Create space to breathe, ponder, and process what’s happening around you and within you. Curiosity keeps you engaged and helps uncover new possibilities amidst the uncertainty.
Speak Optimistically
Even when the pace of change feels chaotic, try speaking positively about the broader vision and intended outcomes. This approach not only helps you embrace the opportunities created by change but also provides a moment of calm and positivity amid the whirlwind. Embodying this positive persona does require a level of self-care, so get enough rest, practice gratitude, and stay flexible. Remaining optimistic can inspire those around you and keep you all focused on progress. Who knows? The situation may shift again before you even begin mobilizing, and your optimism could make it easier to shift gears.
With each step forward, we strengthen our resiliency to face future challenges with greater confidence. In a world that demands adaptability, developing the skill to manage ambiguity is essential. Stay self-aware and tap into your team, focus on what you know, manage your mindset, embrace learning, stay curious, and speak optimistically, so you can not only survive but thrive in uncertain times.
As a leadership coach, I coach growth-minded professionals to lead well, get recognized, and thrive.
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