Today, I am making a departure from my usual podcast format of using art as a way to inform business principles.

Recently, I have had a number of clients, friends and family find themselves in very ambiguous situations in their jobs so I wanted to offer some thoughts and insights to anyone in times when there is a lack of clarity.

My general approach to my goals is to have a vision, work backyards to figure out how to achieve the vision and then set actions to get me there. But, sometimes, due to circumstances in the organization (e.g., mergers, downsizing, economy, etc.) or personal circumstances, the way ahead is just not clear. It is like waking up to a fog so thick it is impossible to see much beyond a few feet. We need to go forward, but we just cannot see the other side.

In the summer of 2015, my wife and I spent a summer on Cape Cod in a house on a pond.

My usual early morning routine there was to grab a cup of coffee and head down to the Adirondack chairs by the pond.

One morning, the fog was so thick; I could only see the very closest edge of the pond.

It struck me that many times; we are stuck in a place of uncertainty with no clear direction for how to go forward.

The choices are ambiguous.

I started to think back on situations where I felt surrounded by ambiguity – with no clear way forward.

So, I started to think about what strategies I have employed or seen others employ to deal with the uncertainty.

While not an exhaustive list, here are five strategies I have found to be effective.

1. Know what/who you can trust to keep you rooted in uncertain times.

2. Take baby steps in what seems like he right direction and alter your course with new information.

3. Identify alternative strategies to get where you want to go.

4. Have a plan B.

5. Wait and look for the beauty in waiting.

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