We saw in my last post about risk that we are working in a really uncertain world. That poses a threat to us as humans as we like certainty (see David Rock’s SCARF model). We prefer to avoid uncertainty. And yet uncertainty is part of life and work these days. We cannot avoid it. We need to learn to work in the rain. And we need to help others to work in the rain, to accept that uncertainty and change are the only constants, that without change, organisations would wither and die because they wouldn’t be keeping up with (or better still ahead of) the new contextual requirements of them.
Consistency and predictability
But at the same time as working through and with uncertainty, we need to create a sense of consistency and predictability. We saw that when we talked about flexibility and structure. Creating consistency and predictability in our daily routines is one way of creating more of a sense of certainty. But what else can you introduce that will create consistency and predictability?
- Meeting regularly and consistently with your people 1-1, so they have a chance to discuss their tasks and their careers.
- Follow through on your promises to your people
- Align what you do with what you say you believe in
- Reinforce good behaviour by giving positive feedback six times more frequently than you give constructive feedback (Kim Cameron, Positive Leadership)
- Be clear about your expectations of your people
- Set goals with your team members, even if they are short-term
- Break down complex processes into smaller, more understandable chunks
- …..what else can you think of that will create some sense of consistency and predictability despite uncertainty?
