In today’s fast-changing world, two leadership skills are more essential than ever: Embracing uncertainty and becoming comfortable with ambiguity.
These capabilities are no longer just “nice-to-haves”—they’re central to effective leadership. And if you’re finding either of them difficult, you’re not alone. Most of us crave certainty. We want clarity, predictability, and reassurance. But leadership today often demands that we operate without any of those things—and still move forward with confidence.
A path to developing these skills begins with understanding what uncertainty and ambiguity really mean. While the terms are often used interchangeably, they have different meanings.
Uncertainty means “not known beyond doubt,” or “not having certain knowledge.” We can’t predict the future. We don’t always know what’s coming next, how people will respond, or what external events might reshape our plans.
Ambiguity means “different matters are understood by different people in different ways.” Ambiguity arises when communication, goals, or expectations can be interpreted in multiple valid ways. You might say “move quickly,” and one person speeds up, while another cuts corners. Same message, different meaning.
The best we can do as leaders is make decisions to influence outcomes and shape circumstances. Then we must trust that, however things play out, we’ll have the judgment to make even better choices as we get new information. In our unpredictable world, it’s helpful for us to focus on the choices we make, the actions we take, and the contributions we can provide. While certainty is rare, our capacity to influence is powerful.
Becoming more comfortable with ambiguity starts by recognizing that communication and interpretation are never entirely within our control.
Leaders who navigate ambiguity well:
- Speak and act with intention
- Invite questions instead of assuming clarity
- Acknowledge when things are unclear
- Stay open to feedback and different interpretations
High-level leadership doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means having the courage to lead when answers are unclear. Instead of chasing certainty, focus on creating value:
- Step up to help
- Listen to understand
- Break uncertainty down into small, actionable next steps for your team
When you show up this way—consistently, intentionally, and in service—you not only get better at leading through uncertainty, you also help others do the same. And that is leadership in action.
