Navigating through uncertain times - The Compass of Ambiguity
A personal reflection from Marian O’Brien, Project X Partners
Like many I’m sure, I have found recent weeks unsettling, interesting and challenging. I realised last week how much of my “norm” had changed, especially my mornings that had now become focused on catching up on Covid19 updates overnight on my various news feeds and listening to and watching the news on TV, as well as getting lost in a spiral of social media stories too.
I found myself last week feeling more and more out of control of the situation and starting to stress and get anxious about the uncertainty of what was going on and what I needed to do, as well as being confused by the conflicting articles I was reading and perspectives being shared by different governments, experts and news media.
On a personal level, as a very pragmatic person, I also started to layer pressure on myself in thinking about and trying to draw action, conclusions and make multiple decisions around; finances, flight & hotel bookings, family commitments, food & supply requirements, meeting and socialising plans, Easter plans, work commitments, health requirements, care arrangements for parents and other elderly relatives… etc. etc. etc.
As someone who is generally laid back and lives a “Que sera, sera” existence, I found myself on Tuesday thinking, I need to “get a grip” and in order to do this, I needed to make sense of what was going on for me and take back control and make some decisions. I found that once I gave myself permission to be OK with the craziness and as I sat down with a cup of coffee, I recalled a framework that I had used with clients in the past around managing ambiguity, which I thought was very apt for my situation… The Compass of AmbiguityTM.
The Compass of Ambiguity TM
What is it?
In full disclosure, this was created by a very talented colleague and friend, Alan Robertson, and is a sense-making tool that was designed to assist managers to decide where to direct their attention, when they find themselves unsure about how to proceed.
It is natural in situations that are complex, unfamiliar, uncertain or dynamic, to feel at times unclear or even confused about the way forward. The Compass of Ambiguity highlights the principal alternatives for attention and provides relevant questions to refocus and make sense of things that can lead to decisions and clear actions and in doing so, give control and management over the uncertainty.
Where does it come from?
The Compass of Ambiguity has been developed directly from the practice of coaching individuals in role transition. It caught the sense of disorientation and uncertainty that they were experiencing, as they found themselves confronted with the unfamiliarities of the new role and its context, which I think has many relatable similarities to these unprecedented times.
When the sense of ambiguity becomes dominant, often with an underlying anxiety further reducing the capacity to think clearly, through conversation and questioning we start to see recurring themes and patterns and by simply naming these themes it is often sufficient to restore momentum.
How does it work?
Essentially The Compass of Ambiguity utilises the classic problem solving strategy of ‘narrowing the problem space.’ Identifying a set of alternative possibilities reduces the ambiguity. It provides some specific points on which attention may be focused.
It has been said that “intelligence is knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do.” In that sense, The Compass of Ambiguity is an intelligent prompt. It helps to collect our thoughts and refocus our thinking. When progress is faltering, it offers new options, approaches and actions.
How did I use it?
I started to think about the 8 points on the compass and the explanations of these headings. I then explored the related questions to decide which points I had clarity on and those that I had the most uncertainty or ambiguity about.
From there I then plotted some ideas down, started to speak to people, sent emails to create action and where needed then, and still today, continue to explore. In doing so, it allowed me to move to action and decide next steps, through making sense of what was going on and through the art of the possible, for each point.
On a personal level, I like and prefer to have options to situations and not just see things in binary. In exploring each compass point, I started to create clear options and correlate the impact and outcomes of taking action… in doing so, taking control.
Some prioritised examples of action I created and the questions that prompted my reflection and subsequent actions:
Finances: (reflecting on Priority - What needs to come first here?)
Reviewed finances and moved some money around to give me a few months cover
Created a financial back up plan and timeline for actioning
Contacted landlord to inform and to question their plans
Decided that if this is a prolonged situation, then I may need to leave London
Followed the .gov site for relevant information to my circumstances
Social Interaction: (reflecting on Requirement & Priority - What’s the opportunity in this?)
Arranged regular virtual socialising from home activities - virtual coffee, afternoon tea and wine bar with various friends and family
Information Overload: (reflecting on Affect - How can I decide how I feel about this?)
Permit myself 2 x 30mins on social media a day
Focus on 2 reliable news media sources and whose tone is factual and not sensationalising
Look at news updates for 30mins in the morning and again in the evening, at least 2 hours before going to bed
Personal & Social Responsibility: (reflecting on Resource - What support can I expect from others? And what can I offer?)
Volunteer for NHS coaching support programme
Stay in, except for essential shopping requirements
If sharing anything, then make sure it is of help to others or positive in tone
Work: (reflecting on Agency & Consequence - To what extent is this situation/problem/opportunity down to me?)
Having just recently set up a business with 3 partners, stay connected with them daily
Look for opportunities to support virtually and offer/ remind my network of this
Write, write and write… channel thinking into research and usable content
Connect with experts for advice: Insurance, .Gov support for small businesses etc.
Mental Wellbeing: (reflecting on Consequence & Purpose - What’s the risk for me personally in this?)
Start to plan for activities 3 months from now
Continue with a daily schedule of work, activity and exercise
Listen to music over watching TV
Make a To-Do list of all those odd jobs I’ve been putting off around the apartment and action
Alan's like me in that he likes his work to be thoughtful and useful. So we both hope that you'll find The Compass of Ambiguity helpful, either during the present uncertainty or at some point in a happier future.
If you would like to explore more or have a conversation, please email marian@projectxpartners.com.
Follow PXP at www.linkedin.com/company/projectxpartners.
You can reach out to Alan Robertson directly to find out more about The Compass of Ambiguity: www.linkedin.com/in/alan-robertson-11010414
Originally published on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pulse/navigating-through-uncertain-times-compass-marian-o-brien
