As a leader, you know how challenging it is to navigate the constant change, uncertainty, and complexity that we face in our world today. You may feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or even anxious about the future. You may wonder how you can keep up with the pace of change and stay ahead of the curve.

The leaders we work with often report feeling stuck, ill-equipped, or overwhelmed as they face the growing challenges of their roles. To effectively lead others in increasing complexity, leaders must first learn to lead themselves. But don’t despair, there are ways to improve your ability to learn, grow, and thrive in a complex world. In this blog post, we will share six strategies that can help you become a more effective and resilient leader in the face of complexity. These strategies are based on the latest research and insights from Rebecca Zucker and Darin Rowell, two executive coaches and experts in leadership development.

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Throughout our careers, we are conditioned to come up with the answer — as in a single, definitive, correct answer. Given that our brains are hardwired to see uncertainty as a risk or threat, it’s physiologically normal to feel stress when faced with unfamiliar situations. Although avoiding these unpleasant feelings is a natural human tendency, it can become a significant barrier to learning, future growth, and ultimately performance. Rather than avoid these feelings, we must learn to acknowledge and embrace the discomfort as an expected and normal part of the learning process. As described by Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, leaders must shift from a “know it all” to a “learn it all” mindset. This shift in mindset can, itself, help ease the discomfort by taking the pressure off of you to have all the answers.

Learn the difference between complicated and complex.

Some people use complex and complicated to mean the same thing, but they are not. Complicated things are not easy to understand, but you can split them into smaller pieces, get advice from experts, and usually solve the problem. An example of a complicated thing is tax law, which has many technical parts and rules but can be demystified by asking an expert accountant.

Complex things are different. They have many pieces that affect each other, and some of them may be hidden or change in ways that you can’t see. Also, when you change something in one piece, it can have surprising and big results on other pieces via unintended consequences. An example of a complex thing is climate change. There are many opinions on this issue, but there are no clear answers. While there may be no shortage of opinions on these types of topics, there are no clear solutions. As a result, solutions to complex challenges typically emerge through trial and error and require a willing attitude, humility, and the ability to act, learn, and adapt.

You cannot make a mistake.

In a complex world, there is no one right answer or solution. Instead, some multiple possibilities and scenarios require testing and learning. Aiming for perfection is a lesson in frustration. Instead of perfection, aim for progress, expect mistakes, and recognize that you can continually course correct as needed.  To experiment in such a way, you need to adopt a growth mindset. Such a mindset means seeing challenges as opportunities to learn, rather than as threats to your self-esteem.

To let go of perfectionism, identify, and acknowledge your specific core fears that are triggered — such as “I’ll fail,” “I’ll look bad,” or “I’ll make the wrong decision.” Underlying these fears is an often implicit and unexamined assumption that “if any of these fears come to fruition, I wouldn’t be able to recover from it.”

Coaching is often very successful in helping leaders debunk assumptions. Loosening the grip of these assumptions over time can allow you to let go of perfectionism and accept that mistakes and failures are to be expected along the way.

Resist oversimplifications and quick fixes.

It’s tempting to oversimplify complex challenges so that they seem less daunting. For example, breaking a challenge into its respective components can help you to feel like you have a greater command of the challenge at hand, but it can also narrow your view and obscure critical interdependencies, leading to a false sense of security. Likewise, drawing analogies from challenges that you’ve faced in the past, can be useful but it can also lead you to miss the unique nuances of the present challenge.

Many high achievers have a bias for action and become quickly frustrated when facing challenges that don’t present an evident solution and clear course of action. Instead of caving to the desire for quick resolution, leaders must learn to balance their need for action with a disciplined approach to understanding both the core problem and their own biases.

Don’t isolate yourself as a leader.

Leading a team can feel isolating as you face change and uncertainty. Part of the sense of isolation comes from an implicit belief that you need to solve all the issues yourself. It is important to cultivate the practice of intentionally reaching out to your network and beyond for insight and perspective. You can benefit from the input and guidance of others who can offer you feedback, advice, and encouragement. To seek feedback and support, you need to be proactive and ask for it from people who can help you achieve your goals and who have your best interests at heart. You also need to be receptive and appreciative of the feedback and support you receive and use it to improve your learning and growth. One of my favorite sayings is “Thank you, this feedback is such a gift.”

There is an inherent limit for each of us regarding what we can know and our ability to have an objective perspective on any given situation. Yet, we can greatly expand our knowledge and perspective by cultivating and connecting with a network of peers and colleagues; each with their own set of experiences and perspectives. By seeking feedback and support, you can accelerate your progress, increase your confidence, and strengthen your relationships.

Zoom Out

Leaders often get stuck in the challenges they face because they are too immersed in them. “Zooming out” or finding a way to reflect on the challenge from a “higher vantage point” provides you with a broader perspective and can shine a light on unexamined assumptions that would otherwise not be visible. From an elevated vantage point, interdependencies and larger patterns become observable, potentially revealing unforeseen obstacles and new solutions. This more holistic perspective allows for greater adaptability and course correction when needed. Make a regular practice of finding a way to see the bigger picture and become more agile. A tagline that is often used with entrepreneurs and can be useful for other types of leaders is to set aside time to work “on the business” not “in the business.”

As a leader, you have the opportunity and responsibility to learn, grow, and thrive in a complex world. By following these six strategies, you can enhance your ability to navigate change, uncertainty, and disruption, Remember, learning is a lifelong journey, not a destination. Enjoy the ride.