Working well in uncertainty and chaos
CRJ’s Advisory Panel member Amanda Coleman explores how individuals and organisations can navigate uncertainty and make sound decisions amid crisis in her latest blog for Under Pressure.
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Every day, we hope for the predictability that will give us some comfort. Yet the world is ever-changing, and particularly at the moment, it brings regular challenges to confront. It is a level of uncertainty and chaos that humans dislike. This is something I have been wrestling with after a change in my personal circumstances; whenever I’ve wanted to run smoothly, I suddenly have a big bump in the road.
This is something we all need to become better at, and that is accepting and managing our working lives. Any organisation can be placed at the centre of an incident in seconds; think about the Astronomer incident recently. There will also be a clamour for information about what has happened amid gaps and uncertainty. So, how do we become more comfortable in making decisions in such difficult times?
To answer that, here are four things I think can help when you are facing a challenging change in circumstances.
For starters, take a step back and take a deep breath. This can help you to relax rather than feeling forced to rush in with a solution. Then, consider what you know to be a fact and where the gaps in knowledge are. This will help you understand what the future may hold and how things may develop. Moreover, focus on what you can do; while you may want to think about the future, it’s better to be focused on what needs to be done now. Lastly, remember you are doing your best. There is rarely a simple right or wrong answer, and it is about doing what you can and being comfortable that you have done your best.
The world increasingly wants people to feel there is a simple right or wrong, good or bad, to events. However, the reality is that life is complex and situations that we face are complex. Dealing with uncertainty and chaos is part of the human experience, whether it is at home or at work.
Keeping your head to make decisions is the one thing we can do.
Read the original article here.