“The future will punish certainty and reward clarity.”
~ I often cite this quote by the futurist Dr. Bob Johansen during my keynotes.
What I appreciate about this quote is that it liberates us from needing to have the right answers.
People look to you for answers—but no one has them. You feel enormous pressure to say or do the right thing.
How do you communicate in a time of global turmoil, when you don’t know what will happen, but everyone is looking to you for leadership?
How can you say “I don’t know” without losing the confidence of the people you lead?
Communicating in Times of Uncertainty
The wise leader doesn’t pretend to have the answers: they confidently acknowledge the uncertainty and provide a vision for how we are going to navigate it together, providing a sense of community to support their teams.
Try these phrases:
- “We’re in uncharted territory.”
Acknowledge there is no one solution or playbook for this situation. - “Here’s what we know at this point.”
Summarize key facts and explain what they mean for your audience. - “Here’s what we’re doing to navigate this.”
When you lack confidence in the final outcome, find confidence in the process you are using to make decisions. - “I believe in our team.”
Tap into shared values, create a sense of community and capability that your team is up to the challenge.
I define confidence as a belief in one’s ability to affect a positive outcome. Harness that confidence in yourself and in your team and use it to guide them through this time of uncertainty.