Thriving in the face of uncertainty ??

Welcome to Quick Confidence! This weekly letter delivers a spritz of stories, tips and actions that will build your confidence and power. Each tip bolsters confidence in your body, mind, and relationships so you can lead yourself and others to greatness. Quick Confidence is also a book! Get your copy to carry confidence wherever you go.?

The unknown. The unpredictable. The uncertainty.

It’s uncomfortable, unnerving, and, let’s be honest, sometimes downright terrifying. It's also a perfectionist's kryptonite.??

I still remember the cringe-inducing feeling of being given a major new technology project as a midlevel professional, where the only guidance I got from my boss was: “We’ll figure it out as we go." My brain was like: Oh no. I need a checklist, a roadmap, and a five-year plan.

If you like having all the answers before making a move, stepping into the unknown can feel like walking a tightrope with no net. Our brains crave clarity and predictability, so when things feel murky, we might default to overanalyzing, second-guessing, or worse—doing nothing at all.?

But what if we reframed uncertainty not as an inconvenience but as an opportunity? The most adaptable people—the ones who see discomfort as manageable and stay calm when things go sideways—are the ones who thrive in leadership and life.

Handling uncertainty well doesn’t just help you survive; it helps you thrive. So, instead of resisting ambiguity, use it as a chance to experiment, learn, and uncover new possibilities.?

How do you get better at handling the unknown without feeling completely lost? It all starts with building up your confidence and adaptability. Try these strategies:

Quick Confidence Tips to Handle the Unknown Like a Pro

1. Embodied: Put your thoughts on paper. Our brains love visuals, so sketch them out instead of keeping your thoughts tangled in your head! Think of it like sketching out a timeline, making a workflow, or even brainstorming - free form - with thought clouds. Map out what’s “above the waterline” (what you do know) vs. what’s hidden below (the unknowns). List your assumptions next to different plans to clarify what’s fact versus guesswork. You can also use a cause-and-effect diagram (aka a fishbone diagram) to see how different factors are connected. Visualizing your thoughts can be a powerful tool when facing uncertainty.
2. Interpersonal: Go on a listening tour. Sometimes, the insights we need are right in front of us; we just haven’t asked the right people. Consider gathering intel from those with firsthand experience, whether it’s your team, customers, or industry peers. Run a quick anonymous poll, organize a mini focus group, or ask a few one-on-one questions over coffee. Even one unexpected perspective could spark a breakthrough idea (or at least make your next step clearer!).
3. Mindset: Embrace the upside of not knowing everything. Uncertainty can actually work for you—if you let it. Instead of fixating on gaps, flex your creative muscles! Here’s a fun challenge: Grab a piece of paper and list five different uses for a rubber band. Go! Maybe you wrote down “hair tie,” “slingshot,” or “closure system for a bag of chips.” The point? When we practice flexible thinking, we see possibilities where others see roadblocks. Keep this in mind next time you hit an unknown—there’s always another way forward.

The ability to navigate uncertainty with confidence makes you a trusted leader, a creative problem solver, and someone who doesn’t just react to change but actively shapes it. Life's uncertainties aren't going away anytime soon, so why not get better at handling them?

What’s one situation where you turned uncertainty into an opportunity? Let’s hear it!

My book, Quick Confidence: Be Authentic, Boost Connections, and Make Bold Bets on Yourself, is an essential guide for professionals at any career stage who want to build their presence and confidence.

Inside, you’ll uncover the 9 most common “confidence blockers” and learn practical strategies to overcome them. You’ll also discover how to conquer intimidation, use silence strategically, and adopt mental and physical practices to reinforce your confident persona—and so much more!

If you’re ready to boost your confidence, update your self-image, and improve your well-being in a fun, lasting way, order your copy of Quick Confidence today!