With the number of important decisions we make every day in our businesses, we all face a certain level of uncertainty. The key to succeeding in spite of this is learning to use our emotional intelligence to deal with doubt and bounce back. Here are some strategies successful people follow when it comes to dealing with uncertainty:
Make plans, not expectations
Expectations lead to disappointment. Instead of expecting the uncertain future to give you something specific, focus on what you can control right now and forget the rest. You can never control the outcome of your decisions, but you can tackle challenges day by day with a plan.
Stay positive
Negative thoughts push your mind to a stressful place where you keep worrying about the future and lose focus. On the other hand, positive thoughts will drive you to reason and come up with a solution. Positive thinking refocuses your attention to the task at hand, which can help you make tough decisions. By looking beyond the worst case scenarios, you’ll be able to seize the opportunities that are right in front of you.
Don’t strive for perfection
Striving for perfection can leave you feeling uncertain about your chances of success. Instead, set realistic targets that you’re sure you can achieve. If you set perfection as your goal, you’ll always be disappointed if you’re not able to accomplish it—and that can make you feel even more uncertain about the future.
Remember—you’ve faced this before
You must have experienced uncertainty in the past. So, try to remember how you responded to that situation and managed to move forward. By taking the time to step back and think about what helped you in the past, you’ll gain confidence in the present.
It’s easy to let yourself obsess over uncertainty. But instead of focusing on all the “what ifs” that keeps you up at night, try to remain calm and use the strategies above. They’ll help you conquer your fear of the unknown, so you can embrace all the adventures of life—and business.
