VUCAD: Ambiguity
Ambiguity refers to those situations which are amorphous, vague, and ill-defined. These situations require people to be able to learn how to cope with the unknown; make meaning of elements of the unknown that are available to them and function with fortitude in a never-ending maze. It is characterized by a lack of clarity in direction or goals (particularly in a fast-paced environment), making it difficult to progress. Because it’s tough to see what is involved in the process and what the potential outcomes are, Ambiguity makes it unclear if all or any of the best options are in front of someone.
When faced with ambiguity, individuals typically tend to ignore the ambiguity completely and rely on gut responses to deal with the situation or frame the situation in terms that they can understand. However, both of these responses are not optimal as accepting the ambiguity and trying to analyze it logically without seeking congruence to personal beliefs is the only way to fight ambiguity.
To manage Ambiguity well, there are three important steps to take:
1. Accepting Ambiguity
Understand that Ambiguity can present one with unforeseen circumstances, so reacting to the ambiguous situation in a collected way is recommended. When things go wrong, people do their best to cope with the circumstances and still move forward with their choices. But when things go wrong and one isn’t sure how to cope or what choice to make next, Ambiguity can take hold by driving them back to what they already know, to what is familiar. This is where reframing or ignoring Ambiguity begins.
2. Create a Stress Management Plan
Ambiguity can often result in frustration or fear. Creating a strategy to tackle fear when it strikes is a great way to center oneself and begin moving beyond frustration. Take a step back from whatever may be causing fear or frustration, identify the concern and brainstorm a plan to offset it.
3. Expert Counsel
Once a person has created a stress plan to cope with the Ambiguity, all it takes is asking an expert [on the aforementioned situation] about what is being worked through and find answers about what is currently confusing. Asking questions may sound simple enough, but it’s about asking the RIGHT questions to get the information. When starting, one may not know what the ‘best’ questions are, and might find the information they have gotten has yielded little help.
Because seeking clarity on the causes of Ambiguity can often be enlightening, one handles Ambiguity well if one can sift through vague directives to identify and prioritize the information required to make quick and clear decisions. As a quick note, Ambiguity differs from Uncertainty in the answer to any specific question. An uncertain situation may have a concrete answer that is unknown only at that point in time. An ambiguous data point may have an entirely unknowable answer (at least unknowable to anything the person has access to).
Let the three steps above helps you create a stress management plan and help you reduce Ambiguity. What (three) steps you can take to clear your mind and reduce fear when faced with Ambiguity?
