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Embracing Uncertainty

In a global business climate that changes faster than any leader can plan, authors Clampitt and DeKoch have outlined the essence of leadership, by first explaining how false certainties are created, and then providing key ideas and insights into how to cultivate a culture that embraces uncertainty. They make the case that organizations which learn to live with a healthy amount of uncertainty perform better and maximize their people’s potential.

First of all, as a leader, recognize that you are not expected to have all of the answers all of the time. It is part of the mantra of embracing uncertainty to do away with this shame in saying, “I don’t know” and encouraging debate, more thoughtful decision-making, and more self-critique.

1. What Are The Benefits Of Embracing Uncertainty?

• It's a hedge against overconfidence.

How many companies that performed well a decade ago are still flourishing today? In business, you must prosper or perish, and allowing your organization to be complacent about its established positions, markets, and methods is dangerous. There is a line between positive thinking and overconfidence. Humility is always a better teacher than arrogance. Many battles are lost because an arrogant leader refuses to listen to other views or possibilities, to seek other alternatives. Embrace doubt and keep questioning your existing systems and ideas. See where there is room for change.

• Embracing uncertainty reduces frustration.

Police investigators are often under great public pressure to present a suspect. Sometimes the public need for certainty sends an innocent person to prison. In business, most decisions have to be made without complete information and ever-evolving regulations or climates.

• Embracing uncertainty fosters growth, learning, and flexibility.

One must remain teachable and open to learning. When we stop being teachable, we stop growing. A tolerance for the new and uncertainty enables a group of people to work with focus and flexibility, in an almost ant-like method. Things can change in a day, and your people need to understand this and move like a swarm of ants towards a new direction at the drop of a hat.

• Embracing uncertainty properly frames information.

Weather forecasters have the most professional use of uncertainty in their language. They use words like “possibility of rain”. This is a totally different paradigm and can be given some consideration when it comes to our business climate.

When the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986, a part called the O-ring was previously noted to melt in certain temperatures. Under pressure from NASA the manufacturer of the defective O-ring reversed it’s “no launch” recommendation. Seven astronauts died because NASA did not consider this important piece of information on the O-rings. Officials did not consider the doubts of the engineers in their haste to push through with the launch. . . . . .