Welcome to the Stop Sabotaging Your Success Podcast, episode sixty-three. I’m your host, Cindy Esliger. This is the podcast focusing on what we can do today to take control of our careers and overcome the inevitable barriers to success that we encounter along the way. 

Navigating uncertainty and ambiguity in the workplace can be challenging and it can result in a lack of clear direction, increased stress and anxiety, difficulty in decision-making, ineffective communication, and resistance to change. To manage these challenges, we need to focus on building resilience, developing problem-solving skills, and maintaining open communication. 

In this episode, we will explore what uncertainty and ambiguity are, how they can arise in different aspects of our work, and why we should embrace them, rather than avoid them, to further our careers. We’ll also get into some concrete strategies for embracing uncertainty to help you reframe the situation and see that this ambiguity that is making you uncomfortable can actually be used to your advantage. All this discomfort can lead to opportunities to develop important skills and traits that we can use to adapt to our constantly changing workplace landscape. 

The unpredictability of today’s workplace can be challenging to navigate. However, embracing the unknowns and overcoming our desire for certainty can lead to growth and advancement in our careers. 

What is uncertainty and ambiguity and is there a difference? 

We all have encountered situations where we don’t have all the information that we need to make informed decisions. Uncertainty refers to circumstances where we are unsure about what will happen in the future, while ambiguity refers to those instances where there could be multiple interpretations of the same information.

Both uncertainty and ambiguity can create a sense of discomfort and anxiety for us in the workplace. This discomfort can arise in many aspects of our work. There may be uncertainty about the project’s scope or timeline and ambiguity about the project’s goals or objectives. In decision-making, there may be uncertainty about the consequences of different options and ambiguity about the long-term implications of different choices. It can also show up in our communication, where there may be uncertainty about how to effectively convey information and ambiguity about how the information will be received. 

Navigating these unknowns can be challenging. This lack of certainty can make it difficult for us to understand what needs to be done and how to prioritize our tasks. This can result in confusion and a lack of clarity, which can hinder our productivity. Sometimes this uncertainty and ambiguity can be unpredictable and create a sense of instability, which can increase our stress and anxiety levels. This can impact our mental health and overall wellbeing and can also decrease our job satisfaction and may lead us down the path toward burnout. 

When we’re faced with a lot of unknowns, decision-making may become more challenging. There may not be enough information available for us to feel like we’re making informed decisions and the consequences of making the wrong decision can sometimes feel significant in a high stakes environment. 

Uncertainty and ambiguity can make it difficult to communicate effectively with our colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. Misunderstandings can arise and expectations may not be clear, which can lead to confusion and frustration for everyone involved.

Since many of us prefer to stick with familiar processes and routines, when we’re unsure what lies ahead, we can become resistant to change. This can get in the way of our willingness to embrace innovation and growth within our organizations. To navigate uncertainty and ambiguity in the workplace it is essential to communicate regularly, remain flexible, and be open to change. 

To remain adaptable, we should also focus on building our resilience and developing problem-solving skills to manage our feelings of discomfort effectively. But it’s not all bad. There are some upsides to that uncertainty and ambiguity that we feel. 

Sometimes, embracing that discomfort can lead to personal and professional growth in that we are more likely to take risks and step outside of our comfort zones. This can lead to new experiences and opportunities that may not have been possible if we had avoided those unknowns out of fear.

Embracing the unknowns can also promote creativity. When we’re open to new ideas and perspectives, we are more likely to come up with creative solutions to the problems and challenges we might be facing on a daily basis. 

Dealing with uncertainty and ambiguity can be challenging, but it can also help us develop resilience. By learning to adapt and overcome obstacles, we can develop the skills and confidence to handle any and all future challenges with ease.

Embracing those unknowns can also enhance learning and growth. When we’re open to new experiences and ideas, we are more likely to learn from them and grow as a result. And when we are willing to adapt to new situations and be more flexible in our approach, we are more likely to be successful in a rapidly changing environment. 

We can really set ourselves apart from those who are rigidly resisting the change in favor of what’s familiar and comfortable. So I invite you to see uncertainty and ambiguity as an opportunity for growth and development, to help us expand our horizons, and be more likely to achieve our full potential. 

Embracing uncertainty and ambiguity can be a valuable approach to furthering our careers, and here are five reasons why: 

1. It spurs innovation. By being open to exploring new ideas and possibilities, we’ve become more adept at thinking outside of the box and coming up with novel approaches to solving problems which fosters our creativity.
2. It builds resilience. Dealing with uncertainty can be stressful and challenging, so embracing what we’d rather avoid can help us build resilience as well as adaptability, which are key skills necessary in the modern workforce. Those who are comfortable with uncertainty can more easily navigate changes and setbacks and quickly adjust course when needed. And if we’ve learned anything in the past few years, those are necessary skills for thriving while getting our work done. 
3. It provides learning opportunities. When faced with uncertainty, we are often forced to learn and acquire new skills to successfully navigate the situations before us. While we may be reluctant at first, these valuable learning opportunities can lead to the personal and professional growth necessary to move our careers forward. 
4. It builds confidence. Learning to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity can build self-assurance as we learn to trust ourselves to figure things out. Those who are comfortable with ambiguity can often be seen as adaptable and confident, which as we’ve discussed many times, can be a valuable asset in the workplace. 
5. It increases opportunities. Embracing uncertainty can sometimes lead us to new career paths. By being open to new possibilities and taking calculated risks, we can sometimes find ourselves in new and exciting roles or industries just by following our curiosities. 

Overall, embracing uncertainty and ambiguity can be a valuable asset in furthering our careers. By developing resilience, adaptability, creativity, and confidence, we can position ourselves for success in today’s changing work environment. All of this can help us become more adaptable, where we get the chance to practice and develop important skills and traits such as flexibility, problem-solving, and agility. 

Developing the ability to adjust to changing circumstances and be flexible in our approach can help us become more comfortable with adapting and changing course when needed. When faced with ambiguity, it’s often necessary to analyze the situation and find creative solutions. By practicing this skill, we can become better at not only identifying issues, but also developing effective solutions quickly before those issues become larger problems. 

When we’re faced with uncertainty, we may need to learn new skills or acquire more knowledge in order to navigate the situation successfully. By embracing uncertainty, we can develop a growth mindset and the ability to adapt to new situations, instead of staying stuck, wishing things would remain the way they’ve always been. In today’s workplace, we can all use some help to ease the discomfort we feel when we’re unsure what to do next. 

Here are some tips and strategies for embracing uncertainty and ambiguity in the workplace: 

Start by reframing the situation. Instead of seeing those unknowns as a negative thing, try to reframe it as an opportunity for growth and learning. This can help shift your mindset from one of fear and anxiety, to one of curiosity and openness. 

Be open to new possibilities. Uncertainty can provide opportunities for exploring new ideas and approaches. So keep an open mind and be brave enough to take risks when you can. You just might be surprised with the outcome. 

Seek out information. In uncertain situations, it’s important to gather as much information as possible to make informed decisions. This may involve reaching out to colleagues, conducting research, or seeking advice from our mentors or other experts in the field. 

Practice mindfulness. Meditation, or simply deep breathing can help reduce stress and anxiety, allowing us to approach uncertain situations with a clearer mind. 

Collaborate effectively. Clear, concise communication and collaboration are essential when navigating uncertainty and ambiguity. Work with others to gather information, brainstorm solutions, and implement strategies. Action is the best antidote to anxiety. 

And finally, develop a growth mindset. Challenges and failures are really just opportunities for growth and learning. By embracing this mindset, you can approach uncertain situations with a sense of curiosity and a willingness to learn. Do your best to embrace uncertainty and ambiguity using a combination of mindset shifts as well as these tips and strategies we discussed.

Your mindset plays an important role in embracing unknowns and by emphasizing the idea that challenges and failures are opportunities can help reduce anxiety and stress. Being open to the ideas of others can provide you with a broader perspective and can help you identify new solutions which you may not have come up with on your own. It’s important to communicate openly and honestly, sharing information and ideas, as needed, so people can make informed decisions and keep things moving forward.

The idea of embracing something that creates discomfort for us can be challenging for many of us, as it often involves stepping outside of our comfort zone, and accepting that the outcome of a situation may not be fully known, or have the guaranteed result that we’re looking for. 

Let’s dive into some common challenges that we tend to face when we’re trying to embrace these unknowns. The fear of failure is a common challenge that we face when we’re not sure of the outcome of our efforts. This fear can often prevent us from taking risks or trying new things since we tend to be worried about the potential negative outcomes or consequences that may or may not happen. 

Embracing uncertainty and ambiguity often requires us to adapt to changing circumstances and new situations. This can be uncomfortable for many, like me, who tend to prefer stability and predictability in our lives. Uncertainty and ambiguity can create a feeling of lack of control, which can be challenging for people to accept. I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting to control things that are really beyond my control. This is particularly difficult for those of us who like to plan and thrive on having that sense of control over our lives, even if it’s more wishful thinking than reality. 

Facing unknowns can also lead to feelings of anxiety as we tend to worry about what could happen or feel unsure about our ability to navigate a new or unfamiliar situation. But trust yourself. You can figure it out. You will know what to do when it happens. Some of us have a strong need for certainty and clarity and may struggle with not knowing what might happen, which makes us want to avoid those situations at all cost. 

Negative self-talk can also feed our self-doubt and make us want to second-guess ourselves, which can get in the way of developing a desire to take calculated risks and embrace those new experiences that might be good for us and our careers. 

Overall, learning to embrace discomfort can be a difficult but necessary process for personal and professional growth and development. Recognizing and understanding these common challenges can help us to better navigate and overcome them. 

Here are some tips and strategies that can help us overcome the challenges of dealing with uncertainty and ambiguity in our workplace: 

1. Build a support network
2. Focus on learning opportunities
3. Prioritize self-care
4. Develop resilience
5. Take action

So back to number one, build a support network. Having a support network of family, friends, colleagues, or a career coach can be very helpful when dealing with uncertainty and ambiguity. They can provide emotional support and offer advice to help us stay motivated and focused on our goals.

Number two, focus on learning opportunities. Rather than focusing on the potential negative outcomes of a situation, try to reframe the uncertainty as an opportunity instead. This can help shift the mindset from fear to excitement and help us approach our work with a more positive attitude. 

Number three, prioritize self-care. Taking care of yourself is essential when dealing with stress and uncertainty. When you’re not at full strength, everything just feels harder to deal with. Engaging in activities such as exercise, meditation, or taking a break from technology can all help in reducing our stress and improving our mental health. 

Number four, develop resilience. Resilience is the ability to adapt to change and overcome challenges. And I think we can all agree that building our confidence, perseverance, and problem-solving skills can help us cope better with this lack of certainty and reinforce our resilience. 

And finally, take action. Doing something, even if it’s just a small step, can help us feel more in control and reduce anxiety than sitting back waiting for something to change or waiting for someone to save us. Setting goals and putting our plans into action can help us stay focused and motivated, which can greatly reduce our anxiety. 

Just remember that it can be helpful to embrace uncertainty and approach it as an adventure. Trying new things and taking risks can lead to exciting opportunities and experiences that may not have been possible if we’re always avoiding the unknowns. Believe me, I get it. Dealing with uncertainty and ambiguity can be challenging. But by building a support network, focusing on learning opportunities, practicing self-care and mindfulness, developing resilience, taking action, and learning to embrace the uncertainty, we can all overcome these challenges and grow from the experience. 

A key thing to remember is that encountering uncertainty in the workplace can actually improve our decision-making skills. When faced with unknowns or a lack of information, we’re forced to think critically and creatively in order to make the best decision with the information available. Sometimes this can lead to more innovative and effective solutions than when dealing with clear-cut problems. 

Additionally, embracing uncertainty can also help us develop a greater sense of adaptability and resilience as we learn to navigate unexpected challenges and changes in our work environment, and figure out how to use them to our advantage. Embracing unknowns requires a growth mindset where we are able to see challenges and failures as opportunities for learning and growth. This mindset enables us to adapt to changing environments and seek out new experiences which can help further our careers. 

Building resilience is essential to managing that discomfort effectively. Resilience involves developing the ability to bounce back from setbacks and maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity. This can help us stay focused on our goals as well as creating and maintaining momentum toward achieving them, even in challenging circumstances.

Navigating uncertainty and ambiguity also involves taking calculated risks. This means weighing the potential risks and rewards of the different options and making an informed decision based on the available information. Being open to taking calculated risks can help us seize opportunities and sometimes achieve our goals more quickly, as long as we are prepared to learn from what doesn’t go right along the way. 

So remember, although it’s uncomfortable, embracing uncertainty and ambiguity in the workplace can be used to our advantage by helping us develop a growth mindset, building resilience, and helping us take those necessary risks to move forward in our careers. These skills can help us navigate challenges and seize opportunities we might otherwise miss. 

And that’s it for this episode of Stop Sabotaging Your Success. Remember to download your Guide to Making the Most Of Uncertainty at cindyesliger.com/podcast, episode sixty-three.

Thank you to our producer, Alex Hochhausen and everyone at Astronomic Audio. Get in touch, I’m on Instagram @cindyesliger and my email address is info@cindyesliger.com. And if you liked this show, please tell a friend. Subscribe, rate, and review. 

Until next week, I’m Cindy Esliger. Thanks for joining me.