How to Successfully Manage Uncertainty

Important: GDPR Email Preferences

As you may already know, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will be coming into effect on 25th May 2018. We take your privacy seriously and we are working hard to ensure we comply with the new data protection laws. You can find out more about how we're doing this in our privacy policy on our website.

We want to make sure you continue to receive the latest newsletters, blogs, special offers and more.

As someone who has opted-in to receive our emails in the past, we’d like to give you this opportunity to confirm what you wish to receive:

Just so you know, if you don’t let us know what kinds of emails you want to receive from us, we’ll stop emailing you on the 24th May 2018 - you'll be missing out!

You are of course free to change your mind at any time – just follow the link at the bottom of any of our emails.

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of nothing, because everything is in a continuous state of change, so whatever you think you know today, will be out of date by tomorrow.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.

Personal Development Training

To learn more about improving confidence and being more successful, please check out our Personal Development course, which is available online and in-house.

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.

Blogs by Email

Do you want to receive an email whenever we post a new blog? The blogs contain article 5-10 minutes long - ideal for reading during your coffee break!

Further Reading in Leadership and Management

• Leadership and management development
  The ability to self-motivate; self-manage; to develop self-confidence and personal initiative Your leader managers need to develop six fundamental skills sets, if they are to be effective in their roles. They are as follows: To set and achieve your goals...
  Read Article >
• Great Leaders
  Many people believe that great leaders are born, not made. However, no-one is born with the leadership gene. Leaders can be made with a series of learned behaviours, starting today!
  Read Article >
• Practical Leadership Training
  Leadership ability is not a special quality given to a few people. It is possible to learn a set of identified leadership behaviours which, when practised correctly, will achieve the desired results. Have you got what it takes to be a leader?
  Read Article >
• Leadership Styles
  Leadership styles There are many styles of leadership. But the important thing to recognise is that the concept of "leadership", itself, has its own distinctiveness and that "leadership styles" are minor variations on the major theme. It would be an error to focus too hard on the differing variations before you...
  Read Article >
• What is the difference between a leader and a manager
  Learn the difference between leaders and managers, and how to improve your leadership and management skills. Read more online today.
  Read Article >

Looking for Leadership and Management Training?

If you're looking to develop your Leadership and Management Skills, you may find this Leadership and Management Training Course beneficial:

Open Training Course Pricing and Availability

Next Open Course Starts in 3 days, Birmingham M6 J7, places available Book Now >