I’m smart enough to know not to talk politics in the workplace (although sometimes I let a comment slip here and there, despite my best efforts, I’m human too!) And although this is not a political post by any means, I thought I would kick off our March focus topic of “Confidence and Doubt” with a quote attributed to one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin. Ben nailed it then as he does today. Not much is certain in this life except maybe those two things – death and taxes.
If death and taxes are the only certains, is it safe to say there is a certainty in knowing the rest is uncertain? I suppose the answer to that question could depend on your risk tolerance (or your Mischievous score if you’ve ever taken the Hogan Development Survey). The higher your risk tolerance, the more comfortable you may feel with uncertainty. The lower your tolerance, the more uncertainty may unnerve you.
I’ve written quite a bit about making decisions that move you forward when uncertain; you can read the most recent musing here. But today, I thought we’d talk about what to do in the face of uncertainty after you’ve decided to move forward.
Uncertainty is the travel partner to everyone who decides to move forward. And doubt is the baggage they carry with them. Becoming more skilled at stowing helps you travel faster.
TIPS TO TRY WHEN YOU FEEL UNCERTAIN:
1. Prepare Yourself – I feel uncertain every time I conduct a workshop, training, or keynote. Every time. So I practice. Every time. Prepare yourself for the questions you may be asked ahead of time. Prepare yourself for when technology is not your friend. Prepare yourself and your team for two contingencies at all times. The bonus is that you may like the alternative plan better than the original. How well did you prepare today?
2. Test Tiny – Keep your test group small, but have a test group! Many years ago, I lived near an awesome town called Hermosa Beach in California. Jay Leno (then the host of the Tonight Show, a late-night talk show in the US now hosted by Jimmy Fallon) used to try his monologues and material every Sunday night at the Comedy & Magic Club there. If the jokes went over well, he’d use them on the show; if they didn’t, he’d tweak them and give them another shot next Sunday. The point is, he didn’t test with millions; he tested with tens. Test your thoughts, plans, and directions in a low-stakes environment where the impact is negligible. Who is your test group?
3. Learn – When you are uncertain or feel like there is more information out there you could use, there probably is. Without even going down the road of AI, ChatGPT, and Claude, don’t forget that someone has already done what you are trying to do. Someone has probably given a TedTalk about it; go watch it. Someone has probably done a YouTube video about it; go watch it. Someone in your organization has probably had experience in a similar realm of what you’re facing now; go find them. Learning from mentors, seeking advice, and getting another perspective has never been easier than it is today. What do you need to learn today?
*Many of you messaged me that you bought Mel Robbin’s book The Let Them Theory after I reviewed it last month. I thought that was so cool. (I also wish I received a portion of those sales, but that’s beside the point.) A few of you inquired about what else I read – for work or fun. And although I’m not about to start a book club, in answering that question, and given today’s topic of uncertainty, I thought I would offer you a fun read (not necessarily “work-related”). The Midnight Library by Matt Haig might scratch that itch for a few of you. If you’ve ever wondered what your life would look like if you married that other person, went to a different college, took a different job, drove home a different way that day, etc… would you want to know where that choice led you and would you want to see it if you could? Happy reading!
