Ambiguity & Leadership

“A leader’s job is not to have all the answers but to be comfortable with ambiguity and to create the space for others to find clarity.” ~ Brené Brown

“In times of great uncertainty, leaders must have the courage to act—and the humility to learn.” ~ Roselinde Torres

“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

We usually think of ambiguity, or not knowing exactly what's going on, as a bad thing.

It can feel confusing or even stressful. But surprisingly, being able to handle uncertainty is a really valuable skill in everyday life.

Life rarely gives us clear answers, "life is like a bag of apples".

Whether you're deciding on a job change, raising a family, or figuring out where you stand on an issue, there are often no perfect or obvious choices. People who can stay calm and think clearly in these uncertain situations tend to be more adaptable, open-minded, and resilient.

This is especially important if you're in any kind of leadership role, whether you're running a small business, managing a team, or helping organize your community. Being okay with not having all the answers right away allows you to include different opinions, try new ideas, and adjust when things don’t go as planned.

Good leaders don’t stick to just one way of doing things.

They change their approach depending on what’s needed and who they’re working with. In workplaces and teams, being comfortable with uncertainty helps everyone work better together and reduces misunderstandings and bias. Good leaders understand the timing of the day, and the change of the seasons, and sometimes it's a long month for colleagues, and people do get tired, and different emotions come and go - just like the seasons, never holding a grudge, always having a heart of Mercy.

In everyday life, at work, at home, or even dealing with government systems, it's clear that flexibility matters.

Things change quickly. The world throws us curveballs. If we’re willing to experiment, learn from mistakes, and stay open to new information, we’re much more likely to make good decisions, even when we don’t have the full picture.

So, instead of fearing the unknown, we can learn to see it as a chance to grow, connect, and lead with a bit more understanding.