When the future gets blurry, people start making bad decisions.
In this episode of Management Muse, Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin explore uncertainty from every angle: not just how leaders respond to it, but how they create it, how organizations amplify it, and how individuals shrink themselves because of it. From miscalibrated risk assessments to communication breakdowns, they unpack how ambiguity distorts decision making at every level.
You will hear why leaders often overreact to potential threats, how silence can unintentionally signal danger, and why high performers sometimes hold themselves back when outcomes feel unclear. Cindi and Geoff share practical ways managers can stabilize teams, communicate more effectively, and think more clearly when the future feels unsettled.
If you lead people, manage change, or simply want to stop playing small when things feel unclear, this episode will help you learn how to make uncertainty work for you.
Episode Highlights:
- The hidden cost of fear-driven decision making
- Why we overestimate risks and underestimate opportunities
- A framework for calibrating your risk assessment skills
- Why organizations overcorrect in the face of uncertainty
- How to fix communication breakdowns during periods of change
- What managers can do to create steadiness
Want to Go Deeper?
Get your copy of The Uncertainty Playbook: 14 Strategies for Work Success in a Chaotic World here.
→ Use code PLAYBOOK20 for 20% off.
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