Do you feel like you’re standing on quick sand at the moment?
I don’t know about you but the ground doesn’t feel so stable and trust seems to be evaporating in front of us.
The problem with uncertainty is that when you feel unsure you often speak less, holding back or waiting until you have the “right” thing to say. Yet this is precisely when communication matters most … it’s face to face communication that builds trust.
Change can make us question ourselves, instead of speaking up we go quiet and ask ourselves, Do I know enough? Am I saying the right thing? What if I get it wrong?
Perfectly capable people hold back, rather than contribute.
When organisations, jobs, technology and expectations are changing, people need to be able to ask questions, express concerns, share ideas and have difficult conversations. Silence doesn’t make uncertainty disappear but uncertainty does make you silent!
I’m not saying that you have to dominate the conversation or push your ideas onto others. Being confident enough to contribute in a way that feels authentic is what you’re aiming for!
Remember that everyone else is facing the uncertainty too. And you don’t need to be the most knowledgeable person in the room to say what you think. Saying “I don’t know, but here’s what I’m thinking” or “I’m not sure I agree” can communicate powerfully.
Confidence often comes after we speak up, not before. The more you practise contributing, asking questions, challenging respectfully and having conversations you’re tempted to avoid, the more comfortable it becomes and, I believe, the stronger the ground we’re standing on feels.
