Dealing With Uncertainty

Times of “uncertainty” trigger people’s defense mechanisms. Allowing external factors over which you have no direct control to dictate how you live and work is in conflict with your need to succeed.

Consider the wisdom of Golda Meir, the former prime Minister of Israel who said “I must govern the clock, not be governed by it.” Her message and principle are clear; you need to remain in control of your life. As a competent human being you should never place yourself in the position of simply reacting to the challenges that come our way. You are in charge of your own destiny, until such time as you hand it over to the adversary. Hunkering down in the face of unpleasant and trying circumstances is akin to admitting defeat without even putting up a fight. The moment you choose to “react”, you are giving over your power and control to that with which you are faced.

The appropriate response in these uncertain times is to exercise “certainty of action” for what you believe in, stand for and are working so hard to achieve. While you may not be able to control external factors, you can be in control of how you respond to them. In so doing, not only will you be supporting yourself, you will keep your control, focus and perspective which will lead you in exercising appropriate evaluation and then executing decisive action.

Uncertain times like any other obstacle should not alter your purpose, direction or fortitude. While circumstances may have changed, what you are attempting to achieve has not. Your goal remains the same. Here are several things that you can do en route to the finish line:

1. Persevere: Adhere to the mindset of staying the course and accomplishing what you set out to do. The act of persevering will help you to stay focused and on track.

2. Make Necessary Modifications: When the unexpected occurs, seek clarity in understanding precisely what is taking place. Then reevaluate what course adjustments or corrections you may have to make to your original plan. It may be necessary to incorporate some additional action steps or even adjust your target date for achieving your goal. Unexpected circumstances, obstacles or delays should not alter your final result. Be strong and stay the course.

3. Keep Your Power: As Golda Meir observed, you are in control of not only the clock, but the calendar and your life. Your decisions are far more powerful than your circumstances.

4. Be Fearless: If you are to achieve success on your own terms, you must remain undaunted. Regardless of what happened today, you must remain strong and courageous. Then embrace tomorrow knowing full well that “It’s what happens next that matters most”.

5. Seek Help: When the going gets tough, seek out the assistance that you need to help you succeed. We all require help at times, in order to get where we want to go. Going it alone is never a recipe for effective change or success.

People are asking... how bad is it going to get? The truth is that no one knows for sure. What you do need to know is that you can’t anticipate the next move of an opponent that you can’t even see or identify. Don’t allow visions of doom and gloom to zap your energy or steal your focus. Give your fears a back seat and get on with the daily activities that provide for your family and nurture your spirit.

Copyright © 2008 Executive Coaching International / Thomas H. Swank, Executive Coach. All Rights Reserved.