Confidence Without Certainty: A Smarter Way to Lead

The markets have always been unpredictable - despite our best attempts to predict the future.

The world is always humming with uncertainty. Economic turbulence, political unrest, environmental calamities. The details may change, but the pattern remains the same: despite our best efforts, the future stays unpredictable.

When the world feels unpredictable, it’s easy to respond by doubling down on a sense of control. We make quick calls and downplay risks. We speak in absolutes. We manufacture a kind of “peace of mind” amidst the chaos. But that kind of certainty often closes us off to what we don’t see - and blinds us to what’s actually possible.

I once worked with a coaching client who found himself in exactly this kind of trap.

He was a high performer at a software company: Top of his sales team, regularly exceeding targets, management loved him. So when news came down that the company would be restructuring, he didn’t feel especially concerned. In fact, he figured he’d probably be promoted.

He was confident the sales team wouldn’t be touched and even more confident that his job was safe. So he started thinking about upgrading his lifestyle and told me that he was shopping for a new car.

After being explicitly told the future would involve some shake-ups, my client was making bets. I couldn't help but giggle to myself about human nature.

I invited him to pause and notice how he was responding to the unknown.

It’s a common pattern. We don’t like not knowing, so we rush to a narrative that gives us a sense of control.

I asked him to consider a few other possibilities. What might he be missing? What if his role wasn’t as protected as he thought? What would he do then?

We spent time exploring different outcomes and building real options. He decided to hold off on the car and instead updated his resume and started a few casual conversations with other companies in the industry.

Sure enough, two weeks later he was let go.

Despite his stellar performance, the company needed to downsize and his salary was one of the biggest. But thanks to our chat he was prepared. He landed a new role in less than a month. It came with a higher salary, and eventually, yes, the new car too.

There’s no doubt that uncertainty is uncomfortable. It stirs up anxiety, makes us second-guess, and perpetuates a sense of frustration. In these moments the impulse to cling to a story can be strong.

But the kind of confidence that helps us grow - what I call the right kind of confidence - isn’t about having things all figured out. 

It’s about trusting that you’ll figure things out as you go.

That even when plans shift, or structures collapse, you’ll be able to adapt, respond, and keep moving forward.

That kind of confidence is what helps people lead through complexity, make better decisions under pressure, and build resilience when things don’t go according to plan.

I help people develop the right kind of confidence through the practice of the In•Possibility mindset. It revolves around three deceptively simple questions:

• What am I missing?

• What do you see?

• What if...?

  
  

These questions invite awareness and possibility. They help you lead with curiosity instead of control. And they keep you grounded when everything around you feels uncertain.

If you or your team are trying to navigate complexity - or just feeling stuck in the chaos of what might happen next - feel free to reach out. I may not have all the answers, but I probably have a few good questions that can help you unlock new possibilities.

After all, the goal in the chaos isn’t to be certain - it’s to be ready.