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Business leaders and managers face many challenges, not least the ability to make effective decisions based on unclear and shifting information. Ambiguity can be found at all levels of decision-making across an organization. It affects everyone, from the strategic leader wondering whether to re-structure the business or launch a new product, to the front-line manager considering which project to focus on or whether to recruit now or wait. These tips offer practical strategies to help improve how you deal with ambiguity.
Be Specific
In some cases, ambiguity can be diminished simply by asking for more information or clarification. When receiving information or instructions, ask for specific details wherever possible. For example:
- What is the main objective?
- What are the key deliverables?
- Who is responsible for key tasks?
- When is the expected completion date?
Remember that information can become lost or misinterpreted as it moves through an organization, so ensure that your communications to colleagues and team members are as precise as possible, and encourage them to adopt a similar approach.
Be Organized
When faced with ambiguity, people can often become hampered by trivial issues or adopt a scattergun approach rather than focusing on what is most important. Keep a sense of focus on the bigger picture by prioritizing tasks in order of importance from one to ten, and then organizing and delegating the work appropriately.
Try Not to Get Bogged Down
With any decision, there will always be a margin for error. Managing ambiguity effectively calls for the ability to overcome the need for absolute perfection and strike an appropriate balance between taking time to think things through and taking action. Although some of your decisions won’t please everyone, try not to let any fears of criticism prevent you from moving forward.
Break It Down
If ambiguity has halted progress, it can be helpful to take a step back and break a large decision or problem down into a series of smaller components. Gathering information and making decisions about smaller issues (and gathering feedback on these) can gradually make a larger problem become clearer and thus more manageable.
Use Support Tools
Consider whether your knowledge of a particular situation or problem might be improved by utilizing management reporting or business information tools. Such tools might include using specific software to extract, sort, summarize, and present selected data, or online dashboards or scorecards to track the performance of key activities (e.g. sales)
Beware of Information Overload
Although it is important to be as informed as you can be, remember that gathering too much data can often waste time and create an information overload. This can cloud your judgment, and adds little value to the decision-making process.
Step out of Your Comfort Zone
Effective management of ambiguity rarely occurs as a consequence of sticking to tried and tested approaches, processes and precedents. So, if you are faced with a problem or challenge, don’t be afraid to try something different. Examples might include introducing a new or modified procedure or assembling a different project team than you would normally use.
Use Coping Mechanisms to Minimize Stress
People respond to ambiguity in different ways. Developing an awareness of how you deal with uncertainty and developing appropriate coping mechanisms can go a long way toward diffusing stressful situations. For example, adopting a positive outlook towards criticism and accepting it as part of the learning process (rather than letting it get to you) can be beneficial.
Learn From Different Situations
The ability to deal with ambiguity effectively is improved when people take time to reflect on their experiences.
