Writer and author Maggie Jackson offers a refreshing look at new research on ambiguity and uncertainty in her article for the Boston Globe, “The Gift of Being Unsure What to Do.”
Those who shy from the indefinite tend to engage in rigid thinking, leap to conclusions, and yearn for life to be clear and predictable; they see knowledge as a rock to hold and defend. At the opposite end of the spectrum are flexible, curious thinkers who are more likely to cope well with and even seek out diversity, complexity, and change. The implications are clear: Tolerance for uncertainty is the stepping-stone to cognitive flourishing. MORE
Maggie Jackson
We had an opportunity to speak with Jackson recently and were encouraged by her interest and insights on the subject.
In our work, we’ve found that high potential performers tend to be fairly comfortable with the state of uncertainty. And we know that it can be learned.
You can start by measuring how well you manage uncertainty using the Ambiguity Architect assessment – our instrument we’ve been using for decades.
Uncertainty is a gadfly of the mind, jolting us from complacency — if we are willing to take up its invitation.
Maggie Jackson
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