How to Deal With Uncertainty

from Able Leader, September 2010

by Steve Kaye

Many executives tell me that their biggest challenge today is uncertainty. As a result, they have stopped making decisions.

First, let's recognize three things:

1) There has always been uncertainty.

2) Great leaders create certainty by defining the future.

3) Everyone can find certainty by focusing on what they control.

Here are seven things that you can do to increase certainty, listed from easy to difficult. All of them give you more control over the future.

1) Learn

Effectiveness leads to confidence.

Thus, make learning a deliberate strategy for achieving both professional and personal excellence.

Schedule workshops for your staff. Attend seminars. Buy books. These are inexpensive and highly cost-effective ways to improve your business.

A work environment that promotes learning inspires the employees to work with more engagement, which increases their performance. In addition, supportive work cultures increase retention.

2) Connect

Everything that matters depends upon relationships.

Thus, seek ways to increase your network of valuable relationships.

Hold internal conferences to build alliances within your organization. Contact past clients. Begin dialogues with new potential clients.

Become active in professional associations. Attend local professional meetings. Expand your network into new areas by joining associations that support related professions.

Through such connections you'll gain ideas, referrals, assistance, leads, and sales.

3) Promote

Your success depends upon the people who trust you.

Thus, become known as a credible expert.

Write a blog on issues of interest to people in your industry. Publish a newsletter. Submit your best blogs (or newsletters) as articles for trade publications. Combine your best articles into a book.

Speak at local professional meetings, service club meetings, or chamber of commerce meetings. These organizations are always seeking speakers. Use these engagements to demonstrate your expertise as well as promote your business.

4) Review

Cost reductions offer easily obtainable contributions to profit.

Thus, conduct an intensive evaluation of your entire operation.

Challenge everything for its real cost and its contribution to profit. Note that some things, which everyone takes for granted, may be worthless.

Recognize that requirements to conserve energy and resources will increase. Often small changes add up to produce huge results. (Here's a list of easy ways to save: Sustainable Business Tips)

5) Plan

Uncertainty often foretells change.

Thus, review the fundamental concepts that drive your business.

Evaluate if the vision, mission, and purpose of your organization still apply. Also, review the values and principles that govern your work environment.

If these have changed, then you will need new goals, plans, and strategies.

Convene a series of meetings to work on these issues. If possible, use a professional facilitator because you will obtain better results.

6) Invest

Investment is the key to success in everything.

Thus, seek ways to build security by investing.

Recognize that there are many forms of investment such as effort, kindness, favors, and preparation. Explore ways to invest in the areas listed in this article (i.e., education, relationships, and renovation).

Apply such investments to increase certainty in both your business and personal life.

7) Revise

We are at the beginning of a major shift toward conservation.

Thus, question the role of your business in a world economy governed by sustainable practices.

Challenge, for example, how scarce resources, significant restrictions on pollution, or unfavorable opinion might affect your business.

If you suspect that your business could be at risk, you may want to consider alternatives. It's always easier to make major changes early rather than wait until fewer options are available. Note: this also applies to a career.

In such cases, plan a series of meetings to identify possibilities, consider their implications, select the best alternatives, and create plans for their implementation.

As with any meeting where the results matter, a skilled facilitator will help you accomplish more in less time.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

Call if I can help: 714-528-1300

P.S. Find my books here: Steve Kaye's Books.