How to Leverage the Benefits of Confusion

Progress requires clarity. Confusion paralyzes. Great leaders create clarity; poor leaders confuse. Worse yet, confused people pull back.

Paralyzing confusion is bad but confusion has benefits.

1. Confusion precedes breakthrough. Pushing confusion away pushes progress away.
2. Confusion drives everyone to seek clarity.
3. Confusion opens us to outside influences and input. We seek help.

Thriving in confusion:

1. Acknowledge you don’t know when you don’t. The illusion of “steady as she goes” negates the benefit of confusion.
2. Don’t grab the first point of clarity. Average answers come easily – gently “reject” them. Say, “That idea sounds great what other options could we generate.” Extraordinary answers require sweat.
3. Stay calm. Slow your breathing, movements, and rate of speaking; Pause.
4. Write.
5. Demolish secrets. “Everyone should know everything they need to know to succeed,” Jon Wortmann.
6. Create safe environments. “Clarity is sought by people not forced on them,” Jon Wortmann.
7. Nurture candid discussions.
8. Change willingly, once clarity emerges. 70% clarity is enough.

How to act on clarity:

Clarity doesn’t guarantee progress; it needs courage for fuel.

Teams bolster courage.

Sometimes you feel clear when others don’t. If you can convince your honest, talented team, then go forward with a lion’s courage. The worst that could happen is you all might be wrong.

Other times the fog clears during team meetings. In both cases, allies and advocates instill courage.

Finally, finding courage in teams requires candor and honesty. If you’re surrounded with weak yes-men, peril is near.

Note: Jon Wortmann quotes are based on our December 14, 2011 conversation. Jon is co-author of the insightful book, “The Three Commitments of Leadership.”

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How do you find clarity?

How do you find courage to act on your clarity?

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Want more? See: “15 Potent Ways for Fighting Confusion”

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Are You “Dumb” Enough to Lead

You rose to leadership because you provided answers and solutions; that’s what individual contributors do. Not so with leaders.

In the past, you had all the answers but now you need all the questions. Are you brave enough to not know, even when you think you do?

Leaders with answers don’t need teams, they need cheerleaders and yes-men.

Curiosity and questions enable leaders to bring out the best in others; to find solutions through others. Bringing out the best in others is your job, period.

Dumb:

You limit your leadership when you’re afraid to ask “dumb” questions.

1. Ask obvious questions.
2. Explore inconsistencies.
3. Toss out a “Why not?” It might take you somewhere.

Critics and questions:

Every leader hears personal and organizational criticisms. Face critics with questions not answers.

1. Where does listening to you take us?
2. What new future does your critique create?
3. Are you offering solutions or just bitching?
4. What can you do to make things better?
5. Are you aligned with our mission, vision, and values?

Facing the down side of curiosity:

Too much curiosity creates a spiraling vortex of uncertainty. Too much curiosity stalls progress. There are dumb questions.

1. Ask questions that lead to action.
2. Ask questions that connect with strengths and opportunities.
3. Ask questions that create simplicity not complexity. Any fool can create paralyzing confusion.
4. Ask fewer “why” questions.
5. Ask more questions that start with “how” and “what.” Well crafted “what” questions cut to the chase.

Leading with questions:

Repeating questions creates focus in others. Ask a question frequently enough and people will determine it matters. Ask questions connected to values, mission, and vision.

How can leaders deal with the struggle to have answers when they should be helping others find answers?

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Don’t miss a single issue of Leadership Freak, subscribe today. It’s free.  It’s private.  It’s always practical and brief.

Go to the main page of Leadership Freak by clicking the banner at the top of this page, look in the right-hand navigation bar, enter your email and click subscribe.  Your email address is always kept private.  Note:  if it doesn’t arrive, check your spam filter for a confirmation email.