Olivia loves her position in product marketing. One day, Olivia’s firm announced that it would be acquired by a Japanese company. Shortly after, senior direction was allowed to go, including your boss. The new interim manager of Olivia encouraged his course sponsored by the company on Japanese culture.
Now Olivia’s mind was running: is my job safe? If so, do I keep my current position? Who will I inform? My continuous work here or will you move to Japan or do someone else do my job in Japan? How will I pay my rent?
When Olivia tried to obtain clarity, they said: “You will get answers. Just continue what you are doing.” She felt forced to live in uncertainty about the role in which she had poured her heart and mind.
Uncertainty creates opportunities
Our default value is to think of uncertainty as a problem that we must solve. But American scientist He tells us that “inspiration, creativity [and] The discovery comes from a place of uncertainty. When we admit “I don’t know”, we open ourselves to explore the possibilities.
In his book Uncertain: wisdom and wonder of not being sureMaggie Jackson states that “uncertainty plays an essential role in … driving people in challenging times, good judgment, flexibility … and creativity heights.” It is good to know why we all deal with uncertainty in different points of our lives.
Here are five ways in which we can handle uncertainty.
1. Accept the situation
Accept uncertainty instead of fighting or trying to wish. Do not long for the past. It is natural to seek certainty, however, the wisest approach is to face the uncertainty in front. Acceptance does not mean surrendering. Rather, it is about accepting the current situation and administering it.
2. Grant yourself in what you can control
Concentrate your energy on what you can control instead of worrying about what you can’t. Their actions, reactions and mentality remain firmly under their control, even when circumstances feel chaotic. In intentionally responding to the challenges, you will create an island of stability within you.
3. Singing of your daily routines
Maintaining your daily routine becomes an invaluable anchor against change, challenges and uncertainty. Go to a local park, continue or start exercising, and think about your current challenges in a broader context. These three actions together will give it structure when everything else moves around them. You will thank you for these control and normality pockets within your life.
4. Compilation flexibility
Cultivate flexibility while planning the future. One way is to have more than one plan. Prepare for the unexpected, since it could lead to a good result.
While working at Silicon Valley, I had two strategies to handle uncertainty: I did not attach to the company; And I looked for opportunities such as coverage against life cycles of unpredictable products and volatile technological cycles.
Being reduced always felt a beat away. I joined the companies that were starting a successful ramp and maintained a flexible mentality while riding waves of technology that could start or collapse at any time.
There I gave my role everything, I was attentive to the signs that it was time to jump and look for alternatives.
5. Stop worrying about failure
“There is no way to avoid it for your bone health,” my orthopedic doctor tells me. “You need to work with a force coach.”
I procrastinated in strength training for months, consumed by fear of failure. I hurt my knee in the competitive university swimming. What would happen if the knee exploded?
After trusting my good friend Fiona about the doctor’s orders, she suggested that we tried it together. Fiona’s most difficult part was her fear that she would not see results.
William, a veteran marine coach and strength training in demand, agreed to work with us. Those convinced to push our fear and leave the comfort zone of our family patterns and routines.
We became stronger, better conditioned and created confidence in our physical capacity and mentality to assume new challenges. The additional benefit: we lost pounds and unwanted inches.
This deepened our self -esteem. We question our assumptions about ourselves and open ourselves to ask “what would happen if”. Questions instead of worrying about failure.
Embrace uncertainty generates trust
Adopting uncertainty is to cultivate the mentality that can handle what is developed.
After the acquisition, instead of focusing on his fear of being released, Olivia focused on what to do to stay employed with the company. This improved its resistance and adaptability, features that positioned it for success. He learned about Japanese commercial practices and perfected the ways of showing his skills to the new leadership team. He also assumed new responsibilities, creating more job security for herself. For Olivia, uncertainty became an opportunity to grow.
Whether uncertainty manages one step at the same time or power through it, accept that uncertainty is an integral part of life. With that, any uncertainty could be the one that leads to a surprisingly positive result.