Imagine being in the captain’s seat of a ship navigating stormy, uncharted waters. The map? Outdated. The weather forecast? Unreliable. The crew? Looking to you for direction. As a leader, it can feel paralyzing when you don’t have all the answers. But here’s the twist: leadership in complexity isn’t about certainty’ s about communication.
Jennifer Garvey Berger’s insightful video reminded me of many conversations that I have had with my coachees and a common narrative that generally appears. Faced with an unexpected challenge, one’s instinct is to project confidence, even though there is no clear solution. It isn’t until one admits, “I don’t have all the answers, but together, we’ll figure it out,” that things begin to shift.
When leaders communicate openly even vulnerably it creates a ripple effect. Teams feel empowered, not paralyzed, by complexity. They see that it’s okay to experiment, to fail, to question. Most importantly, they feel trusted and heard.
In complex situations, communication isn’t just a skill it’s the lifeline. It’s about:
Asking thoughtful questions instead of rushing to conclusions. Creating space for diverse perspectives to flourish. Being honest about what you know, what you don’t, and what you’re willing to explore.
As leaders, our strength lies not in always having answers but in guiding our teams to collectively navigate uncertainty. If you want to dive deeper into how this can transform your leadership approach, I highly recommend watching Jennifer Garvey Berger’s video on the topic:
https://youtu.be/llGDvQE1gl0?si=CUTTmc54mSuN2Dpw
