Control Your Controllables: Finding Clarity in Uncertainty
Leadership can feel overwhelming when uncertainty stacks up.
Economic pressure.
Shifting priorities.
People challenges.
Decisions outside your control.
When leaders feel unsettled, it is rarely because they lack skill or commitment. More often, it is because their attention is locked onto factors they cannot control.
Clarity does not come from eliminating uncertainty. It comes from focusing on what is actually yours to manage.
That focus creates balance, direction, and forward momentum.
The Difference Between Influence and Control
Leadership requires influence, not control.
You influence:
- Culture
- Expectations
- Standards
- Communication
- Decision-making quality
Outcomes are shaped over time through these inputs. When leaders attempt to control outcomes directly, tension rises, trust erodes, and decision-making suffers.
Sustainable leadership depends on discipline. Discipline starts with knowing what deserves your energy and what does not.
Five Controllables Every Leader Has Access To
When everything feels noisy, these five areas provide stability.
1. Your Mindset
You may not control circumstances, but you always control how you interpret them.
Leaders who spiral mentally make emotional decisions.
Leaders who manage their mindset make strategic ones.
Ask yourself:
- What meaning am I assigning to this situation?
- Is that meaning helping me lead effectively?
Practical step:
At the start of the day, write down one challenge you are facing and one constructive response you can take. Keep it focused and realistic.
2. Your Energy
Your energy sets the emotional temperature of your team.
Consistency matters more than intensity. People look to leaders for steadiness, especially when uncertainty is present.
Practical step:
Identify one habit that drains your energy unnecessarily:
- Unnecessary meetings
- Replaying conversations
- Constant email or Slack checking
Eliminate it, and replace it with one habit that restores focus, even briefly.
3. Your Standards
Standards drift quietly when they are not reinforced.
What leaders allow becomes normalized, whether intended or not.
Practical step:
Identify one standard that has slipped and one conversation you have postponed. Address it clearly and respectfully.
Clarity strengthens comfort every time.
4. Your Communication
When communication slows down, assumptions, fear, and speculation fill the gap.
People need context, direction, and reassurance that leadership is engaged.
Practical step:
Ask yourself:
- What do my people need to hear from me right now?
- What clarity can I provide, even if I don’t have all the answers?
Say what you know. Say what you don’t. Say what comes next.
5. Your Next Best Decision
Progress comes from forward motion, not perfect information.
Strong leadership shows up through timely decisions made with the information available.
Practical step:
Ask, “What is the most responsible decision I can make today with what I know?” Then move forward and adjust as needed.
Why This Matters
When leaders feel overwhelmed, reactions replace intention.
When leaders focus on controllables, their presence becomes steadier and more purposeful.
That steadiness creates:
- Better decision-making
- Stronger trust
- Clearer priorities
- Healthier teams
This approach does not lower expectations. It sharpens them.
A Simple Exercise for This Month
Before the week begins:
- Write down everything that is creating stress or pressure.
- Draw a line down the page.
- Label one side “Within My Control.”
- Label the other side “Outside My Control.”
Commit your time and attention to the first column. Revisit the list weekly.
Final Thought
Leaders can’t eliminate uncertainty.
They can, however, show up with clarity, consistency, and intention when uncertainty exists.
When you control your controllables, you create stability for yourself and for the people who rely on you.
That is where leadership becomes most effective.
Author
