by Helena Demuynck, Transformation Guide for Conscious Women Leaders
For many successful women leaders, the idea of uncertainty can be downright anxiety-inducing. We’re programmed from an early age that we need to have everything figured out – clear goals, steps to achieve them, outcomes we can measure. But in today’s TAPIA world (Turbulent, Ambiguous, Peripheral Vision, Interconnected, Accelerated), that kind of linear certainty is harder than ever to find.
In business especially, we face unprecedented change, technological disruption, and political/economic instability on a regular basis. The only thing we know for sure is that we don’t know what’s coming next. Innovation requires exploring in uncharted waters, without a trusty map or compass. For many smart, conscious women leaders used to having answers, that kind of ambiguity can trigger fight-or-flight responses.
However, uncertainty is actually where opportunity resides. Those who learn to lean into the unknown, rather than fearing it, gain a strategic advantage. They develop the agility, grit and innovative muscles required to thrive in TAPIA. But how exactly do you train yourself to embrace uncertainty rather than recoiling from it?
Here are 7 powerful strategies successful women leaders are using to not just accept but actively welcome unpredictability:
- Journal about past successes navigating ambiguity. Review situations in your career where you faced uncertainty but still managed to solve problems and find opportunity. Jot down lessons learned to reference on tough days. Knowing you’ve succeeded before, without a crystal ball, boosts confidence for future unknowns.
- Develop a beginner’s mindset. Let go of preconceived notions so you see challenges through fresh eyes, without biases or assumptions. Look for what’s intriguing versus threatening about ambiguity. A sense of wonder fuels better problem-solving than worry ever could.
- Foster a growth mindset in your team. Make it culturally acceptable to say “I don’t know…yet” without embarrassment. Encourage curiosity and experimentation over fear of failure. Over time, people will become more comfortable with iterative progress versus pre-determined destinations.
- Practice scenario planning regularly. Devote time to envisioning a broad range of possible futures rather than assuming only one path. Having mentally explored different conditions in advance reduces surprises. It also yields contingency plans, giving your company greater agility.
- Leverage networks proactively. Build connections with diverse people across industries and experiences whom you can access during ambiguity as ‘advisors of first resort’ – not just in emergencies. Crowdsourcing perspectives diffuses uncertainty more effectively than confronting it alone.
- Embrace imperfection. Give yourself and others grace when facing ambiguity rather than micromanaging every detail. Room for informal experimentation produces better ideas than perfect plans that are never implemented. Cultivate a safe space for mistakes and learning.
- Reframe challenges as exciting opportunities. Train your brain to view the unknown as a chance to innovate, grow and evolve versus an ominous threat. With this mindset shift, leading through ambiguity transforms from stressful to invigorating.
For conscious women leaders, comfort with uncertainty requires practicing new habits daily. But those who dedicate themselves to this work will gain a strategic edge in an TAPIA world. Leaders are readers – through reflection and application, I hope these suggestions help you thrive on the unpredictable path ahead!
