The trap of ‘wait and see’: Leading through uncertainty (Part 2)

Last issue, I shared some thoughts on our tendency to cling to a plan - any plan - when things feel uncertain.

It struck a chord, I think, because we’ve all done it. That craving for clarity. The way even a scrappy roadmap feels better than sitting in the unknown.

But I’ve been thinking about the other side of that coin too.

The moments when we don’t rush to a plan.
We just wait.
Hold back.
Tell ourselves, “Let’s see what happens.”

The way to lead through ambiguity and uncertainty isn't “Wait and See.”

 It’s something more courageous and empowering.

When we’re deep in ambiguity, it’s tempting to fall into “wait and see” mode. After all, the path isn’t clear, the variables are still moving, and it feels safer to hold back than to move in the wrong direction.

But “wait and see” can be a nasty wee trap. Not just a strategic delay - but a kind of shonky emotional withdrawal. It’s what we do when uncertainty overwhelms our agency.

We shrink, we pause, we beg the moment to pass us by and tell ourselves, There’s nothing I can do right now...

And yet, there’s a version of waiting that isn’t passive at all. It’s observant, grounded and deliberate. And hell's teeth that one's an absolute champion!

It’s not “wait and see.” It’s watch and sense.

It’s staying in motion - even if that motion is quiet, and perhaps mildly terrifying! It’s noticing what’s shifting, what’s emerging. It’s holding multiple options in mind, not because we’re indecisive, but because the wisest leaders don’t pretend ambiguity can be eliminated with a single, confident move.

There’s a real discipline in that space. A kind of alert stillness. You’re not sitting on your hands. You’re tuning in. Preparing. Adjusting. 

Choosing what not to act on yet, because the timing isn’t right - or the pattern isn’t clear enough to trust. And being ready to make a call, without all of the information, because you are bold and brave too. 

This isn’t low accountability. It’s not avoidance. It’s a deeper form of leadership. 

One that resists the illusion of control and replaces it with presence, patience, and responsiveness. And leans on curiosity and courage.

So if you find yourself in that place - where action feels forced but stillness feels dangerous - pause and ask:

Am I waiting passively? Or am I watching wisely?

One drains your agency. The other strengthens it.

If you’re leading through fog, and around untold unforeseens, you’re not alone. If you want to talk it out, I’m just an email away.