%402x.svg)
Listen as Scott Stirrett, founder of Venture for Canada, shares practical insights from “The Uncertainty Advantage,” including real stories, actionable tools, and why embracing uncertainty is the key to thriving in today’s fast-changing world. Perfect for leaders and anyone navigating the unknown.
Turning Fear into Success Through Uncertainty Leadership
Imagine living in a world where everything you thought you knew about leadership gets turned upside down. Where the very thing that keeps most people awake at night, uncertainty, becomes your greatest competitive advantage. This isn't some feel-good fantasy. It's the reality that the most successful leaders are discovering in our rapidly changing world.
Scott Stirrett knows this reality firsthand. As the founder and CEO of Venture for Canada, he's raised over $80 million to support entrepreneurial talent and helped more than 10,000 young people launch their careers. But Stirrett’s own path to understanding uncertainty wasn't always smooth. His latest book, "The Uncertainty Advantage: Launching Your Career in an Era of Rapid Change," emerges from this lived experience. It's not another theoretical leadership manual written from an ivory tower. Instead, Scott offers a practical, actionable guide born from someone who has been "in the trenches" with uncertainty and learned to transform it from obstacle to opportunity.
Here's what might surprise you: the fear of uncertainty isn't actually about the unknown itself. It's hardwired into our brains from when our ancestors needed to survive as cave dwellers. Back then, uncertainty often meant death. So when we encounter the unknown today, our primitive brain sounds every alarm bell it has. Studies show we actually fear uncertain outcomes more than bad outcomes. Think about it: wouldn't you rather know you have a challenging diagnosis than spend months wondering if something's wrong?
But here's where leaders like Scott Stirrett flip the script. The leaders who are thriving in today's chaos have flipped this ancient programming on its head. They've learned to view uncertainty not as a threat, but as their secret weapon. Why? Because while everyone else is paralyzed by the unknown, Stirrett and those who follow his mindset spot opportunities that others can't even see.
The neuroscience behind this shift is fascinating. When you reframe uncertainty from danger to opportunity, you literally change how your brain processes challenging situations. Instead of triggering fight-or-flight responses, you activate the parts of your mind responsible for creativity, innovation, and strategic thinking. This is rewiring your mental operating system for success.
What you’re about to discover below are not just leadership theories, but evidence-based practices that work in the real world—from Scott Stirrett’s unique perspective.
How to Identify When Uncertainty Triggers Are Affecting Your Decision-Making
Picture this: you're sitting in a meeting when your boss mentions a major organizational restructure. Your heart starts racing, your palms get sweaty, and suddenly you can't focus on anything else being discussed. This is your uncertainty trigger in action, and recognizing these moments is the first step to mastering the uncertainty advantage.
The Hidden Signs Your Brain Is In Uncertainty Mode (Scott Stirrett’s Playbook)
Analysis paralysis becomes your default setting: You find yourself gathering endless information, asking for "just one more report," or scheduling another meeting to discuss options. This is your brain trying to eliminate uncertainty by convincing you that perfect information exists somewhere.
You default to previous solutions regardless of current context: When uncertainty hits, our minds gravitate toward what worked before, even when circumstances have completely changed. This shows up as repeatedly suggesting the same approaches or dismissing new ideas because "we've never done it that way."
Your timeline expectations become unrealistic: Under uncertainty stress, you might push for impossibly quick decisions to escape the discomfort, or conversely, you might extend deadlines indefinitely to avoid committing to any course of action.
Physical symptoms start appearing: Your body doesn't distinguish between uncertainty and danger. Watch for changes in sleep patterns, difficulty concentrating, increased irritability, or that nagging feeling in your stomach when facing unclear situations.
The Three-Step Mindfulness Assessment
Step One: The Pause and Label Technique
When you encounter an uncertain situation, literally pause and ask yourself: "What am I feeling right now?" Don't judge it or try to change it. Just name it. "I'm feeling anxious about this budget decision." This simple act of labeling activates your prefrontal cortex and helps regulate your emotional response.
Step Two: The Values Alignment Check
Uncertainty becomes particularly triggering when we feel like we're operating outside our core values. Ask yourself: "Does this uncertainty relate to something I deeply care about?" Often, the most uncomfortable uncertain situations are the ones that matter most to us.
Step Three: The Response Pattern Review
Look at your recent decision-making patterns. Are you consistently avoiding certain types of decisions? Do you find yourself deferring to others when you normally wouldn't? Are you making snap judgments to escape the discomfort of not knowing? These patterns reveal where uncertainty is unconsciously driving your behavior.
Building Your Uncertainty Muscles Through Mindfulness: The RULER Method from Yale University for Emotional Regulation
The RULER Method: Your Emotional GPS System: Yale University developed one of the most powerful tools for emotional regulation called the RULER method. This isn't just another mindfulness technique – it's a systematic approach to understanding and managing your emotional responses to uncertainty in real-time.
- Recognize what you're feeling physically
- Understand why this particular uncertainty bothers you
- Label the specific emotions you're experiencing
- Express these emotions in a healthy way
- Regulate by choosing your response rather than reacting automatically
As Scott Stirrett shares:
"The point being is that you're not going to be able to regulate your emotions if you don't understand your emotions. And the ruler method is a really great tip that when you're frustrated, go through those ruler stops and you can understand why you're frustrated. You can begin to label what you're feeling. So that's how to have a different call to motion. Use the ruler method to understand the motion and to ultimately regulate it so you can get back to a healthier headspace." -Scott Stirrett
Leading Others Through the Uncertainty Advantage
Embracing uncertainty is what sets great leaders apart in times of rapid change. When you bring your team along, acknowledging both the discomfort and the opportunities that uncertainty brings, you create a space where growth becomes possible for everyone.
The most effective leaders model what it looks like to navigate the unknown with curiosity and resilience. They celebrate risk-taking and learning, even when the outcome isn’t perfect.
Remember, your ability to handle not knowing is a teachable skill, both for you and your team. By fostering psychological safety, encouraging open conversations about mistakes and experiments, and practicing tools like mindfulness and emotional labeling, you build collective confidence to face whatever comes next.
In a world where the only constant is change, leading with the uncertainty advantage may be your best asset. Stay open, stay connected, and keep practicing the small daily habits that build resilience, for yourself and for those who count on your leadership.
Ready to take uncertainty to the next level?
- To get practical tools and actionable tips that will jumpstart your journey, download the Uncertainty Kick Starter Booklet here.
- Join the newsletter to be notified when a new episode is ready for you to listen and get every Kick Starter Booklet for all future episodes.
- And if you’re looking to elevate your entire C-Suite leadership team, learn how Craig Dowden can help your leaders perform at their highest-level visit https://www.craigdowden.com/executive-mastermind
- For a deeper dive, listen to the full-length episode of the Do Good to Lead Well podcast featuring Colin Fisher:
Did you like this article on uncertainty? Does it help you become a better leader? Then check out these articles to help hone those skills even further:
- Group Dynamics: Unlocking Team Success with Colin Fisher’s Insights on Group Dynamics and Positive Leadership
- Noticing and Hearing in the Workplace: The Importance of Noticing and Hearing in the Workplace with Zach Mercurio
- Leading with Purpose: Core Qualities and Practices for Positive, Inclusive Leadership with Angela Bonfanti
- Leadership in Uncertain Times with Elizabeth Weingarten: How Questions, Vulnerability, and Community Fuel Leadership in Uncertain Times with Elizabeth Weingarten
- Positive Leadership for Innovation and Resilience with Jason Tham: Leading with Authenticity, Agility, and Purpose in a Fast-Changing World
- AI Therapy: Lessons on Vulnerability and Listening: Why Leaders Should Create Judgment-Free Zones Like AI Therapy: Lessons on Vulnerability and Listening
- Lead your team or company in the future with ethical AI practices: AI Driven Leadership Strategies for the Future with Geoff Woods
- Create an environment for Meaningful Work: Exploring the Science and Practice of Meaningful Work with Wes Adams and Tamara Myles
- Reveal and fill blindspots in your daily professional life: Seeing with New Eyes: Martin Dubin on Leadership, Self-Awareness, and Blindspotting
Craig Dowden
%401x.svg){kind=icon}
