Part of the human condition leaves us wanting answers. We crave closure. Post-mortems. Debriefings. An understanding of not just what happened, but why.
Maybe we are trying to learn from the past to predict the future, attempting to draw parallels between current events and historical moments, then using them to anticipate what might come next.
And yet. Despite our best efforts, we still end up surprised. Even with all that analysis (anxiety?) about what could be, we didn’t think *this* would happen. We weren’t prepared for *that* outcome. We did not prepare to navigate *the other* possibility. And so we find ourselves squarely in the unthinkable realm of uncertainty, wondering where we go from here.
For a small number of you, that just gave you an electric charge: This is where the magic happens! This is the place where we pull away from the pack. This is where our wandering brains start to pay off, allowing for reinvention and shaping the future while it’s malleable.
For the rest of you: Your stomach might be doing somersaults. That uncertainty doesn’t engage you. It triggers fear, sometimes leading to unconstructive behaviors that manifest in different ways—inaction, impulsive decision-making, or a constant state of doubt and suspicion. Left unchecked, these three toxic Ps of uncertainty—Paralysis, Panic, and Paranoia—can tank individuals and teams. Identifying them for what they are and addressing them effectively creates strategic advantage, though.
Paralysis
One of the most common responses to uncertainty is paralysis—the inability to make decisions or take action. Information is changing rapidly and some just want to wait to do anything until the dust settles. This can cause missed opportunities, falling behind the competition, and losing an important edge. This analysis paralysis can be overcome by continuing to take small steps forward, keeping up momentum and confidence.
Are you observing paralysis in yourself or your team members?
- Reward experimentation: Have you ever said fail fast, fail forward? It’s time to show what you mean by that. Celebrate a failure of the week, hold a brainstorming session where the prize goes to who shares the most (not necessarily the best) ideas, challenge people to come up with the most original new product. Build comfort with knowing the answers are not all crystal clear right now and encourage continued creativity without certainty.
- Focus on just one thing: This may not be the time to reinvent the entire business line, but anyone can do just one thing to keep moving forward. Small, incremental steps forward are still progress. Move people beyond paralysis by asking, “What is one thing we can do to position ourselves for success right now?” Instead of waiting to see where things land when the dust settles, this keeps people focused on moving forward.
Panic
For some, uncertainty triggers the opposite response. When fear takes over, people panic, rushing into impulsive decisions without considering long-term consequences. This may look like overcorrecting (making drastic changes to strategies that were working) or abandoning goals in favor of short-term security. Panic-driven decision-making can lead to financial mistakes, relationship breakdowns, and career missteps (not to mention reputation risk if what you previously stood for suddenly changes). Mitigate panic by reinforcing what you stand for and focusing on structured problem-solving.
- Talk about your values: Instead of panicking about the unknown, stay rooted in what has always anchored you. What are the values that have guided your decisions and your success so far? How will those keep you centered and focused on where you go from here? It may not be clear how the market will react to what is happening, but we can be clear about how we are willing to conduct business and that the ideas we stand for will remain steady.
- Structure problem-solving through collecting reliable information and acting on that. Consider what is known, rather than what is unknown, and develop practical strategies to move forward in this manner. For example, it may be true that our members might be affected by job loss and may face lost income (at least temporarily). It does not mean that everyone will certainly default on every loan or that we should stop lending altogether. Instead, creating solutions that have been proven to help workers facing lay-offs, strikes, or furloughs may ensure our business longevity while supporting members through hard times (something that aligns well with our values, too).
Paranoia
When fear dominates thinking, people can assume the worst and distrust people, processes, and even themselves. Paranoia creates a perception of threats (even where none exists), leading to unnecessary conflicts, poor relationships, and a reluctance to take risks. In organizations, paranoia can stifle innovation and collaboration. Leaders wanting to encourage effective teamwork and productive problem-solving can keep their teams from falling into paranoia by modeling curiosity and fostering trust.
- Cultivate curiosity: When mindsets shift toward expecting the worst, encourage curiosity. Allow time to explore potential failures: If things really do go that bad, how will we react? Analyzing pitfalls helps prepare for the future, allowing for agile strategies to come into play. Combining curiosity about what could go wrong with a dose of optimism about the resilience of this team can keep these conversations productive, rather than doom spirals.
- Assume good intent: Internally, emphasize an assumption of good intent—a confidence that our team is aligned in finding the best outcome together. This mindset can create highly effective collaboration rather than defensiveness or turf wars, keeping conflict constructive and energy focused on productive problem-solving.
Uncertainty will always be present in business. We are not given road maps; we create them. Resilient, differentiated organizations are those with road maps that guide them forward even during uncertainty. If your organization would benefit from support in differentiating through uncertainty, please reach out. Humanidei offers strategic planning, leadership development, and team-building workshops that create psychological safety, values-based leadership, and growth-oriented teams.
