How to Successfully Manage Uncertainty

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How to Successfully Manage Uncertainty

We live in uncertain times. The "Covid Crisis" has caused huge changes to our professional and social lives, and these changes will continue well into the future. With change comes uncertainty, causing most people to lose confidence and become anxious. The anxiety and loss of confidence has a detrimental effect on people's sense of well-being and their work productivity.

So, all organisations need to answer the following question:

How can we regain our "Sense of Certainty", lessen our anxiety, increase our confidence and improve our work productivity?

Heraclitus' Flux. The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus (c535-475 BC) said that we can be certain of nothing, because everything is in a continuous state of change, so whatever you think you know today, will be out of date by tomorrow. Consequently, we are all doomed to a perpetual state of self-doubt because, "how can we know what to do when everything keeps changing all the time"?

Heraclitus was wrong. There are things about which we can be 100% certain, which are our logical and moral principles.

Logical and Moral Principles.

Irrespective of what happens today, and in the future, there are a set of definite logical and moral principles upon which you can build your business strategy and base your "confidence culture".

You can be one hundred per cent certain about:

1. Your goals: What it is you are trying to achieve. In a general way we all have the same unchanging goal: To "add value" to others. That principle never changes.
2. Your core values: "Who you are and what moral principles you represent". Your core values don't change.
3. Your standards: Irrespective of what happens, your "personal code of conduct" acts as an unchanging point of reference.

In addition to the above moral principles we can also be certain of logical principles.

1. Evolutionary adaptation: Individuals, groups and organisations must continue to adapt themselves to changing environments. The principle of evolutionary adaptation never changes.
2. Sensory acuity: Which means, Pay attention! We must always keep our eyes, ears, and mind open. We must be always acutely sensitive to the changing environment and be ready to make adaptations to our current designs, in order to live long and prosper in the new world.
3. Rule of reason. Reason is your intellect. The rule of reason is, "We treat all people and all problems according to the principles of reason. We never treat people unreasonably".
4. The law of Logic. Logic is the science of coherent thinking. The logical law is: "We never guess. We act only after a logical evaluation of all the available evidence". That principle never changes.

Summary: How do we develop certainty in an uncertain world?

Use the following list as the "foundation stones" of your organisational and personal certainty.

Moral certainties.

1. Your goals: Your ultimate purpose.
2. Core moral and ethical principles.
3. Codes of personal conduct.

Logical certainties.

1. Evolutionary adaptation.
2. Sensory acuity.
3. The rule of reason.
4. The Law of logic.

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About the Author: Chris Farmer

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years’ experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.

Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.

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