How to Navigate Uncertainty

Overwhelmed by the pandemic? Worried that the economy is anemic? Concerned that the world all around you is changing beyond recognition? When there are so many things out of whack, our human instinct is to either freeze and do nothing or change everything in our lives and start afresh.

We must resist the temptation of either extreme. Never has a middle path been more appropriate. But how does one balance the need for action with the peril of making the wrong decision? Here are seven rules that will help you cruise through the uncertainties of the moment.

Lose sight of the shore

“You cannot swim for new horizons,” William Faulkner once wrote, “until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.” The first step in navigating uncertainty involves moving out of our comfort zone to begin exploring the possibilities that lie around the corner. Ignoring the unknown is a recipe for losing out on new opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Diversify with purpose

In the midst of uncertainty, fear leads people to diversify, to dilute their exposure to the perceived threat. It’s the old adage of not putting all the eggs in one basket. But consider the power of this principle when it comes to exposing your mind to a multitude of new ideas. It’s simply self-defeating to believe that sticking to long-held beliefs and ways of doing can work. On the contrary, you need to entertain new paths of action.

To be successful, move incrementally

Another counter-productive belief when coping with large-scale change is that success comes from making big moves, especially when so many things are changing. When beset by fear, we tend to overreact. Take one step at a time, constantly reevaluating the situation. Look for lateral ways in which you can adapt to new circumstances.

Ignoring the unknown is a recipe for losing out on new opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Anticipate dead ends

Incremental course-corrections and lateral moves cannot occur unless you preserve the option of reversing direction so as to avoid into a dead end. In fact, most people become fearful of the future precisely when they find themselves up against the wall. By keeping your options open, you ensure that you can adapt as the rules of the game shift. Never make an irreversible decision by ensuring that you have a way out.

Approach uncertainty with optimism

“Every day is a new opportunity,” legendary baseball pitcher Bob Feller once said. “You can build on yesterday’s success or put its failures behind and start over again.” Fear of the uncertain is such a formidable stressor that even seasoned athletes reel from “competition anxiety.” Anxiety about failing...

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