The 3 Practices for Leading Through Uncertainty

Leading effectively during periods of high volatility and ambiguity requires a shift from corporate jargon toward radical honesty and empathetic communication. Leaders must prioritize plain language over buzzwords to build trust and reduce employee anxiety. Establishing hyper-clear priorities is essential, utilizing the "10 by 10 by 10" rule—repeating core objectives ten times in ten different ways to ensure message retention among a distracted workforce. Beyond addressing what is changing, leaders should explicitly communicate what remains constant to provide a sense of stability and anchor the organization. When specific outcomes are unpredictable, Gartner analyst Mary Mesaglio suggests sharing guiding principles to resolve the tension between competing needs, such as security versus agility. These principles empower employees with a sense of agency, allowing them to anticipate decisions and align their efforts with enterprise goals despite ongoing disruption.