Leadership is a constant dance with ambiguity – shifting priorities, unclear decisions, market instability, complex change. It’s easy to feel like you’re carrying the weight of it all, especially when the goalposts keep moving.
But deliberate leaders know this: you don’t need certainty to lead with clarity. One of the simplest – and most powerful – mental models in uncertain times is the Circle of Control.
Imagine three concentric circles:
👉🏻 Circle of Control – what you can directly manage: your decisions, your mindset, your behaviour.
👉🏻 Circle of Influence – what you can’t control, but can shape: your team, relationships, communication.
👉🏻 Circle of Concern – everything else: global events, market shifts, leadership decisions above you.
Here’s the trap: when uncertainty rises, leaders often default to the Circle of Concern.
Obsessing over outcomes they can’t predict. Trying to manage people or processes beyond their reach. Overthinking. Overextending.
The result? Energy drain. Eroded confidence. Disconnected teams looking for direction.
Recently, I worked with a senior leader navigating a high-stakes restructure. The pressure was intense. She felt responsible for decisions she didn’t make and outcomes she couldn’t control. Together, we narrowed her focus: how she showed up each day, how she communicated with calm, how she stayed present in the messiness. Within weeks, her team felt steadier. The noise didn’t stop – but her clarity cut through it.
That’s what deliberate leadership looks like.
It’s not about having the perfect plan – it’s about where you choose to focus your energy.
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You can’t control uncertainty, but you can control how you hold it.
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You can’t fix every problem, but you can be a steady hand through the fog.
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You can’t predict the next wave of change – but you can lead your team with clarity, presence, and momentum.
Try this self-check next time uncertainty spikes:
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What’s within my control right now?
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What can I influence, even if I don’t control the outcome?
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What am I holding onto that’s outside my control – and costing me energy?
Letting go isn’t passive – it’s powerful. The best leaders aren’t those who try to control everything. They’re the ones who stay focused on what matters most and help their teams do the same.
That’s how you lead through uncertainty – and out the other side.
