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and reinforce what’s working, adjusting along the way. Expressed with confidence, intentions convey
certainty in the midst of uncertainty.

Want to learn more? Take a deep dive…
Doheny, K. (2008). Strategies to reduce perfectionism. Psych Central.

Schwartz, T. (2012, May 1). Turning 60: The twelve most important lessons I’ve learned so far.
Harvard Business Review Blog Network.

Thomke, S. (2011, June 6). How business experimentation fuels innovation. Chief Executive.net.

4. Losing your cool? Manage uncertainty-driven stress. It’s not uncommon to get stressed when
dealing with increased ambiguity. We lose our anchor. Stress increases the chances that you’ll
respond to conditions and people more emotionally. Maybe you lash out. Close down. Berate
yourself. Go into panic mode. However you react, remember that your reactions probably don’t just
affect you. So take charge of it. Get familiar with what triggers your reactions. Is it when you don’t
know what to do, don’t want to make a mistake, are afraid of the consequences, lack the confidence
to act? Pause. Observe your patterns and label your emotions—this will provide some perspective
and reduce escalation. Do some research, then try different ways to regain your equilibrium until you
find what works best for you. There are lots of resources available online, from breathing and
mindfulness exercises to tips on tackling underlying issues. When a situation seems overwhelming,
drop the problem for a while. Go do something else. Return to it after you’ve had time to decompress
and reflect. Practice responding more consistently in ways that will best serve you and your
colleagues.

5. Tentative about entering the unknown? Shift gears and welcome it. Are you the type that dips a
toe in the water before diving in? Tries your best to avoid all surprises? Makes a habit of never
changing a habit? There’s nothing wrong with being cautious—to an extent. But taken to an extreme,
that tendency could keep you stuck in a bygone era. Wake up to now. Learn to dive in and see what
happens. Start with the easy stuff: order new things from the menu, take a new route to work, go on a
mini-vacation without an itinerary. Try things that seem fun and a little scary. Like taking a class in
improvisation where you’ll be forced to wing it and work with what shows up. Spend time with people
who are energized by adventure. Find out how they approach risk and forge new ground, then try it
out for yourself. Remind yourself that the unknown isn’t the enemy, fear is. So ask, “What’s the worst
thing that could happen?” Play out the scenario and notice how resourceful you can be when put to
the test. Still feel queasy? Jump in anyway. It may be uncomfortable at first but be rewarding in the
long run.

6. Daunted by an ambiguous challenge? Gain some perspective. Start by defining the challenge—
what it is and what it isn’t. Visualize it as if you’re seeing it from above. From the bird’s eye view, what
are the various components? How do they relate? Use mapping techniques or concept mapping
software to cluster what’s connected and explore links with the larger ecosystem. Then look below
the surface of the challenge. What underlying issues are causing problems? Keep drilling down,
asking why something is happening, until you get to the root causes. For a different take on what’s at
play, generate discussion using one or more useful frameworks. For example, examine organizational
issues using McKinsey’s 7S model: strategy, structure, systems, shared values, skills, style, and staff.
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