3 factors to increase comfort with uncertainty
Over 3 months this summer my kid went from not being able to ride a bike to mountain biking down lift-assisted trails. It has been amazing to watch the progression of skills and confidence grow with each biking event. As a result of her commitment and bravery, I too am mountain biking on slopes I never expected being on. It has been a transformative summer – for both my kid and me.
As I have taken on these new challenges, I find myself grinning ear to ear having an absolute blast while also completely terrified. I enjoy the ups and downs and bumps and turns. It is a challenge that has my heart racing as I face the uncertainty of the terrain with cusswords flying. Then I get to the end and cannot wait to do it again.
As I run my business, I often have the same mix of emotions – exhilarated and terrified. Owning a business involves uncertainty, just like riding a bike trail down a mountain. It is scary not knowing what is around the next bend and it is exciting to think about what is possible. How we deal with uncertainty in our business is what determines whether we wake up each morning eager to ride the trail again.
As you face uncertainty in your business, 3 key areas will reduce your level of terror and increase your comfort with facing the next obstacle: your plan, core strengths and values, and flexibility.
Your Plan
When we set out for the mountains, we looked at trail maps. We read reviews of the easy trails to ensure they aligned with our definition of easy. We thought through different scenarios and created a plan for our day on the mountain to ensure we could maximize and enjoy our time regardless of what transpired. When things did not go as planned, we were able to pivot and all walk away enthused.
Your business also requires a plan of how you are going to navigate the many paths that lie ahead. You need to plot out the different routes you can take based on circumstances you do not have control over. Whether it is higher interest rates limiting your ability to get funding, or hurricanes disrupting service delivery, proactively planning responses will prevent you from reacting hastily. You will face the uncertainty with less stress for you and your team and keep your business moving forward throughout the challenges.
Your Core Strengths and Values
Riding down a mountain bike trail, my heart racing, requires I lean into my core strength of positivity and finding the good in the tough stuff. It also fully aligns with my personal values of adventure and outdoors. While cussing and questioning myself for committing to the rocky, root-filled experience, I know that I am facing these obstacles and enjoying the outcome because it leverages my strengths, and I am living my values.
When your business faces uncertainty, lean into what you and your business do best. Knowing where you are strongest will allow you to center your decisions around what you know your team can deliver. Having organizational core values gives you pillars for making decisions when you are unsure about what the future holds. Knowing the many paths you may need to take, stay committed to doing what you do best and communicate that to your clients and community to keep your business strong as the environment fluctuates.
Your Flexibility
Flexibility on a mountain bike trail is about going with the flow and recognizing that each trip on the trail will be different. After having done the trail multiple times, you still need to be flexible as the trail is always different depending on weather, other riders, or nature. You must shift your approach quickly.
In your business, flexibility is about adjusting how you reach your goals. It is about looking at your plan, seeing where you want to end up, and determining a new path to achieve that. As you deal with the reality of the changing world, being able to shift gears quickly will keep your business moving forward.
It is frequently said it is about the journey not the destination. In mountain biking, I would agree. With your business, it does not always feel that way, but when dealing with uncertainty, the journey is a key piece of the experience. Spending time focused on the journey, planning the different paths, leveraging your strengths and core values, and remaining flexible on your route, will equip you to seize new opportunities and not let the uncertainty get the best of you.