Leading into the Unclear
Images for leadership are so inspiring: the visual of someone standing confidently and triumphantly on a mountaintop or in front of an admiring throng of followers. And, of course, that is leadership. But leadership is also standing in a barren desert at the edge of a cliff with no idea of which direction to head.
One of the fundamental challenges of leadership is navigating into uncharted territory. While there is excitement and adventure when leading into the unexplored and unknown, it often means that the leader is faced with no clear answers or path forward.
Leadership doesn’t always mean standing in front or going first, and it certainly doesn’t mean making decisions alone. But it does mean guiding the group when the path forward is unclear, and this often happens in challenging and complex situations. Much like early explorers, going where no one has been before — or at least, no one that you know has been before — leadership requires the ability to keep making progress even in the space of ambiguity.
At the most fundamental level, then, leadership requires courage. It requires the bravery to move forward even in complex situations with incomplete information, particularly when what lies ahead seems unknown and unknowable. And it requires a humble confidence. Confidence to proceed, knowing that if you and the team encounter barriers, you have the skill to navigate around them. And the humility, that if you need to backtrack because although you made the best decision you could with the information you had at the time, new circumstances and information make it clear that you were wrong.
So, next time you’re feeling stuck and believe there is no clear answer, just recognize that you are leading. You are standing at the precipice where you are truly at the edge of uncharted territory and, whatever direction you head, you are navigating into the space of innovation, growth, and the future.
About the Authors
Pam Thompson MS, RN, FAAN is the CEO Emeritus of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, formerly AONE. During the same time, 2000–2016, she was the Senior VP of Nursing for the American Hospital Association. After retiring in 2017, she now serves as a healthcare consultant and volunteer board member and trustee for several healthcare entities.
Marla Weston PhD, RN, FAAN is the past CEO of the American Nurses Association Enterprise which included the American Nurses Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center and American Nurses Foundation, serving from 2009 to 2018. She now is a consultant and facilitator in leadership development, organizational strategy and growth, and future trends.
