The Mindsets
5. Progress comes with tension
Leadership behavior: Embracing ambiguity
Progress grows from the soil of uncertainty.
As agile, collaborative, receptive leaders, we recognize that embracing the discomfort of ambiguity is inherent in the process of success. We also know that mistakes are learning opportunities for ourselves and our teams, and keeping our teams motivated in the face of setbacks is one of our most important jobs as a leader.
By increasing our ability to make decisions without having all the answers, we can more rapidly respond to the challenges that naturally arise in the course of doing business, take calculated risks, and seize opportunities despite uncertainty.
What it looks like
- Understands that ambiguity and seemingly conflicting directions are part of making progress in complexity
- Recognizes discomfort and obstacles as learning opportunities
- Acknowledges the tension and helps others work with/through it
- Stays motivated in the face of setbacks
- Accepts that risk of mistakes is part of the potential for success
Self-reflection
- Am I comfortable with uncertainty or do I hesitate in the face of change?
- When faced with a setback, do I react with emotion or take sound action? How?
- When team members face setbacks, how do I encourage them to learn from the experience?
- When I complete a project, do I reflect on the challenges or just the successes?
- What is my process for acknowledging and working through tension?