Comments on: Learn to Manage Uncertainty

By: nurse practitioner

nurse practitioner — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:35:54 +0000

Nice site, nice and easy on the eyes and great content too.

By: Jen Turi

Jen Turi — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:36:13 +0000

Thanks Mike. If one thing is certain it is that things will change. This is a valuable resource particularly for human resource professionals who are in the business of people, one of the least consistent businesses around. I also think this would be a great read for someone who was downsized. Viewing change as an exciting opportunity makes all the difference in what comes your way in the future. Thanks again!

By: Kevin W. Grossman

Kevin W. Grossman — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:39:04 +0000

Thanks, Mike! I love roller coasters too — just not rides that spin round and round. Ack.

By: Mike Ramer

Mike Ramer — Thu, 13 May 2010 02:33:05 +0000

Kevin, This is an excellent post. I love the title. Learning to manage uncertainty may be the most important learning we can do today.

The metaphor you use – the amusement park – is masterful. Amusement parks are fun, exciting, full of anticipation, but can change often and be scary for some. You never know what you’ll see around the next corner. Like the world we live in today.

Your three points are insightful:
- Make decisions with incomplete information. (Go with gut instinct and use common sense.)
- Read up. (Absolutely, understand trends and swim with the current.)
- Yes, find ideas/trends that have nothing do to with your business and study/follow them. (Many times this leads to innovation in your own business.)

I also like amusement parks. My favorite rides are big roller coasters: Speed, excitement and change around ever turn.

Best, Mike

By: Kevin W. Grossman

Kevin W. Grossman — Tue, 11 May 2010 02:49:29 +0000

Thank you for your comment Maj. Great additions!

By: Maj Gen B K Bhatia

Maj Gen B K Bhatia — Thu, 06 May 2010 07:15:30 +0000

Out of all the resources to manage a business enterprise, human resource is probably the most unpredictable. It has an element of behavioral uncertainty. Most leaders have learned to tackle financially ambiguous situations & have intuitive wisdom to take decisions in the absence of adequate data. But true leadership is the understanding of workforce response during periods of unforeseen crisis. You will be able to tackle the crisis if your people have not collapsed. This can happen only if the leaders have a clear focus.
Kevin has depicted the amusement park of business & its crazy rides in a fantastic manner. The ambiguity has been simplified. What an inspiration indeed to learn ‘How to manage uncertainty’ !

By: Kevin W. Grossman

Kevin W. Grossman — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:32:32 +0000

It’s called faith.

Seriously, thank you for your comment and question, Kendall. Leaders who “roll” with the ambiguity are usually confident and strong leaders who forge ahead with decisions, right or wrong. And when wrong learn and adapt quickly to right the wrong.

By: Kendall Thiessen

Kendall Thiessen — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:58:39 +0000

Very timely post. Have had several discussions this week about this very topic: how do you hold the space for ambiguity while still maintaining confidence and momentum? (ambiguity very disabling for some)

One part that is also interesting to note is how different people in an org handle ambiguity. As a leader, sometimes it is your job to include them in the unknown. “We are all in this together”. For some personality types, however, that ambiguity is disabling. As leaders, how does one balance transparency about this ambiguity and yet confidence that we are all on the right path?

By: Kevin W. Grossman

Kevin W. Grossman — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:50:35 +0000

Charee, thank you for the comments! If you really work on mindful presence and owning each moment, then it helps to regulate negative reactivity when everything goes to hell in a hand basket.

I’m all about carrying that ambiguity like a football and cutting left. (Hey, it’s NFL draft time.)

By: Charee Klimek

Charee Klimek — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:38:51 +0000

Wonderful post Kevin.

I love the amusement park as a metaphor. There’s nothing more exciting than learning about a new ride that can take you on an adventure unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before….Harry Potter

It can also be disappointing when you realize that one of your favorite childhood rides was dismantled to make room for this new, more innovative and surely more profitable venture.

Having an open mind, a spirit of adventure and an understanding that we are, and always will be, in a constant state of change makes us more adaptable in times of greater uncertainty.

While it’s natural to go through a period of mourning for the old, it’s also healthy to jump right in line for the new, with anticipation and excitement for what lies ahead. After all, it only adds to our expanding photo album of memories and life experiences.

The coaching suggestions are terrific take-aways as well. Thank you for sharing them.

I also enjoyed the story Michael shared about Vineet’s studies in the Himalayas and the accompanying metaphor of the drift wood and the stone.

Thanks for writing this post and the reminder to cut to the left every once in a while.

Let’s go see what lies beyond the mountains!

~Charee