Uncertainty, the unknown, the grey area, whatever you wish to call it, there is a space that sits between knowing and not-knowing that as leaders (and humans) we are constantly navigating.

Our tolerance for navigating this uncertain terrain can vary according to our past experiences, personal makeup, external circumstances, and so many other factors. It is an individual thing, but no matter where on the “uncertainty tolerance spectrum” you sit, it can be damn hard.

The thing is, as leaders, sitting in the space of uncertainty is not only about us. it’s about our staff, those we serve, and our stakeholders. The gravity of this can weigh heavily on us.

Like a silent movie on replay, there are various questions that can pass through our mind…

• What do I do if… What don’t I do if…
• How long do I wait until I make a decision?
• When will I know when it is time to make a decision?
• What will happen when/if…
• Who will this impact and how?
• How do I navigate my values and what needs to be done?
• How might I support people through this decision?
• How do I uphold the mana of all, whilst also doing what I need to?

It is in these areas of grey, of the uncertain, of the in-between, that our true grit and values as leaders arise. It’s when we need to make hard decisions that have massive implications, that who we are as humans is tested.

Do we choose process over people? 

Or can we have both?

Can we hold people at our heart, whilst also making hard decisions?

I know for myself, in order to navigate uncertain times I need to:

• seek external expertise and advice
• keep anchoring into my values and how I wish to be known as a leader
• create headspace so I can hover above the situation and gain perspective
• hold tight to those who nurture my wairua
• look elsewhere at the uncertainties people are experiencing in the world to seek perspective.

As James Kerr says in his book “Legacy”,

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments,′ said the Greek statesman Pericles, ‘but what is woven into the lives of others.’ Your legacy is that which you teach.” 

So if you are currently navigating the terrain of uncertainty, I wish to leave you with this question;

What legacy do you wish to teach others through your actions?