Admired Leadership Field Notes

Share this post
Uncertainty Favors the Status Quo
admiredleadership.substack.com

Uncertainty Favors the Status Quo

Admired Leadership
Apr 22
Comment
Share

When the pathway forward is replete with obstacles and complexity, committing to the status quo and staying the course is always the easiest decision. Any time leaders face uncertainty after they review and discuss the facts and consider competing views on what to do, the attraction of the status quo rises. Maintaining the current choice requires relatively little from leaders, which makes it even more appealing. 

While it is true that staying the course can sometimes be the best decision, great decision makers don’t allow uncertainty or complexity to lull them into a passive commitment to the status quo. Instead, they use a simple heuristic to narrow the choices and to reduce uncertainty, which often points them to a more active decision. 

The heuristic is straightforward: Reduce the time horizon for the decision. 

In other words, consider the decision within a more immediate timeframe. For example, presume a decision is complex and creates uncertainty because it involves numerous stakeholders, all of whom will have a strong reaction to any decision. The unpredictable and possible reactions produce a whirlwind of uncertainty. A leader can reduce this uncertainty by viewing it as a near-term decision. If the decision was to be made tomorrow, what stakeholder reactions would take precedence? 

Anytime a decision maker reduces the timeframe, complexity and uncertainty melt away. The decision that best suits a narrower time horizon points to a clear path forward. Stop giving uncertainty too much power. Shrink it, instead. 

CommentComment
ShareShare

Create your profile

0 subscriptions will be displayed on your profile (edit)

Skip for now

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.

TopNewCommunity

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2022 Admired Leadership
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Publish on Substack Get the app
Substack is the home for great writing