Acting in uncertainty. Even though this topic has been regularly featured in business reviews and management topics for the past 15 years, it can’t be more relevant than it is now, right?
I also talk about it, because BEING agile and ACTING differently has been at the heart of my practice for years. Today, I share with you two keys to acting in uncertainty.
This article talks about awareness and courage as a leader and how these two notions allow you to act differently to navigate an uncertain context more easily.
Take the tools in this article that you need AND stay moving, aligned with your purpose, in full awareness.
1. Consciousness
The leader’s conscience, and even more so in the current context, can be further enlightened with:
-
Awareness of its impact
What impact do you have on yourself, on those around you, on the organization’s business objectives? The idea here is to be as objective as possible, no need to feel guilty, or anxious. Only objective.
A simple indicator is: if you’re not satisfied with your impact, transform something.
The first step is to minimize the impact on you, so you will have more patience and focus. This will help others, and make it easier to achieve your goals.
I also invite you, in all objectivity, to see to what extent your emotions guide your actions. Does your organization live to the rhythm of your emotions? If you get an answer around 7/10 or higher, I seriously invite you to take stock. What need is not being met?
Evacuate, talk, write, meditate, confide in someone you trust who can help you take the necessary step back and equip you appropriately.
-
Awareness of one’s limits
Are you pushing your limits? If so, for how long and for how long? If you feel that this is the only thing to do, it may be, we will not have a debate via a blog post? But the invitation I am giving you here is to set a deadline, an end date to this exceeding of your limits.
When are you going to stop? If you need a good coach for this, contact us to get to know each other.
-
Awareness of one’s instinctive biases
In times of uncertainty, we can return more or less to “survival” mode, i.e. to our more instinctive behaviors. Do you realize this? For example: you entrench yourself, or on the contrary you go to the front.
When I see my old behavioral models coming in, I realize it! I know myself well enough for that. This self-awareness, I take care of it. I take quality time at least 5 days out of 7 these days, if only for a few minutes, to observe myself.
My thing is to write at the end of the day about what went well, what didn’t, what was missing. What’s your thing?
2. Courage
The courage of the leader can be summed up in this way, in times of uncertainty:
-
The courage to accept the ideas of others
Take the time to listen, analyze, observe. In times of uncertainty, it is less relevant to be right, and much more accurate to open up to the other and accept the other. Also accept that the points of view are different and that the elements can be resolved in a different way than ours or at a slightly different pace.
-
The courage to ask for help
Helping others is good. Getting help is good, too. For example, if you need to make a more informed decision, better manage your time, or have tools to have difficult conversations. The invitation here is not to stay alone to make anxiety-provoking scenarios. Even if you’re strong, even if you’re capable, you’re not a superhero (and even superheroes aren’t full-time heroes!).
-
The courage to communicate authentically
There is a lot of courage in being vulnerable. Have you read Brenée Brown’s “Dare to lead”? It’s such a beautiful book. Or “Braving the wilderness” by the same author. We are all human. We all have worse days.
The last few weeks have been filled with challenges and opportunities: I discovered that I was a teacher, a mother, an entrepreneur, a coach and I didn’t always sleep 8 hours a night? I had a lot of requests at work + a new employee, then another. I’m not complaining. That’s just the reality I have. No more, no less. And on days when it’s too much, I talk about it as much to my 8-year-old son to explain the emotions to him, as I do to my female colleagues, whom I adore. I take time off, I rearrange my schedule, etc. I say what is happening and act accordingly.
Authentic communication forges long-lasting and deep relationships.
-
The courage to (re)question the alignment between one’s decisions, actions, situations and goals.
I had decided to keep my office downtown. Then, an opportunity presented itself. Within two weeks, everything changed and we moved into a new location. It was not planned. I realigned. We adjusted.
My business model didn’t include other coaches and facilitators. An opportunity presented itself. I adjusted my business model and realized that it made it easier to align and succeed in goals.
What I’m getting at is that you can adjust on several levels.
Conclusion
Acting consciously and courageously will make it easier for you to navigate uncertainty
These keys are part of the six abilities of the agile leader: competence, courage, credibility, anticipation, cooperation and innovation.
A brand new training: Acting in Uncertainty, for managers and their teams, in groups of 10 allows them to experience acting in uncertainty, rather than reacting in chaos.
Take care of yourself, others and your belongings, stay aligned, in motion and in full awareness.
Subscribe so you don’t miss out on subscriber-exclusive content and promotions.