How to Accelerate Your Career by Mastering Uncertainty

How to accelerate your career by mastering uncertainty

And this is part four of the “12 weeks to accelerate your career” series .

For those who missed the previous editions, find them all at the end of this post.

This week, we tackle a counter-intuitive but crucial concept: the power of embracing “not knowing”.

For ambitious leaders aiming for the C-suite, the pressure to appear decisive and all-knowing is immense. Yet pretending to know everything is dangerous: loss of credibility, blind spots, missed opportunities and stagnation.

The world is making our projects increasingly complex. Uncertainty is growing; knowing how to navigate the unknown is becoming key.

We often think of uncertainty in negative terms, for the stress and anxiety it brings. A paradigm shift is to see it as a source of growth, humility and creativity.

“We can’t be creative if we refuse to be confused.” – Margaret J. Wheatley

4 essential concepts for mastering “not knowing” :

1/ Cultivate a mindset that welcomes uncertainty

Challenging jobs involve complexity and uncertainty. Consider the unknown as a driver of curiosity, learning and innovation.

Adopt the “Beginner’s Mentality” (Shoshin): Approach situations with a fresh perspective, without getting stuck in past knowledge. This is essential for discovering radically new approaches.

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” – Shunryu Suzuki

Prioritize Curiosity: Approach situations with a desire to learn. Curiosity can transform your view of the world.

Demonstrate confident humility: Be confident in your goals, but humble enough to question your blind spots. As Charlie Munger said, “Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.” Manage your ego and abandon the need to always be right.

Your turn.

• Identify a “limiting hypothesis” you have about your work, your team, or a current project. (e.g., why it won’t work)
• Intentionally challenge this hypothesis. “What if I was wrong?” What if my usual solutions didn’t work here? If I ignore the constraints, what would be the ideal outcome?

2/ Ask relevant questions and seek different perspectives

Questions are essential. When in doubt, identify what you don’t know and seek information.

Listen to Understand: Quiet your inner voice and focus on the other person. Ask clarifying or follow-up questions like “Tell me more”. Active listening increases your influence and creates a context for greater collaboration.

Look for “genius in others”: Interact with the desire to learn. Surround yourself with diverse people to challenge your assumptions and make unexpected discoveries. Protect the voices from below.

Your turn.

• Do a 360° on a problem. Ask different stakeholders the same question. (From confusion to clarity in 6 steps: a practical process for your complex projects)
• Take a subject that concerns you. Ask an open-ended question: “Imagine you had to decide tomorrow, given this information. What would you do and why?”
• Don’t argue, ask clarifying questions (e.g. “What led you to this conclusion?”).
• At the end: Take 15 minutes to review the options. What have I learned that could help me decide?
• Rate yourself: From 0 to 10, did I do my best to listen to understand, and not to respond?

3/ Be vulnerable

It’s a powerful skill for leaders.

Showing vulnerability builds confidence: Admitting what you don’t know is an act of vulnerability that, paradoxically, increases your influence.

Vulnerability fosters collaboration: It allows you to find the best option together and co-create, rather than impose a single idea. An approach that is the foundation of coaching.

Your turn.

• “I don’t know”: Say “I don’t know” clearly the next time you don’t know the answer.
• Feedforward : Give me two suggestions for improvement on [the subject you’re trying to improve].
• And as Marshall Goldsmith would say. If you don’t know what to choose, go for “Humility”. You can’t go wrong. 😊
  

4/ Take action and move forward

Endless information gathering without action is a form of fear.

Just get started: there’s no substitute for action; progress comes from starting and learning along the way. You don’t need to have all the “hows” mapped out.

Action boosts confidence: Taking action, even a small, uncomfortable step, boosts confidence.

Your turn.

• Identify the 3 priorities on your most important project.
• Break down one priority into small, manageable steps.
• Choose the first small action and do it now.
• Start your day tomorrow morning with the next 3 actions.

From understanding to action.

“Nobody gets muscles from watching me lift weights” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

It’s no different with leadership. Just because we understand something doesn’t mean we apply it. Each concept touches on behaviors deeply ingrained in us for years. The best way to change is to practice, practice, practice.

Your turn.

– Identify an uncertainty in your current role.
– Change your mindset: See it as a signal for growth. Adopt confident humility.
– Apply a strategy: Ask a question, seek perspective, take a small step, or be vulnerable by admitting you don’t know.

Make an intentional effort this week to practice “not knowing” and use it as a deliberate strategy for growth and progress. That’s what sets ambitious leaders apart.

In the same series :

• Part I: How to apply “Start with the End in Mind” to accelerate your career: A 12-week guide
• Part Two: Active listening: the key skill for accelerating your career advancement (and how to develop it)
• Part Three: How to develop your employees’ potential: the ultimate guide for leaders

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PS: As soon as you’re ready, here are 2 other ways I can help you accelerate your career through coaching:

For future executives:

Accelerate your rise to a leadership position: I help you create your global vision and develop a plan to accelerate your journey. Contact me and let’s find out if we can work together.

For current executives :

Multiply your impact as a leader: You know that even small improvements at your level can generate significant organizational results and career acceleration. I’ll work with you on your project and guarantee the results. Contact me and let’s see if we can work together.