Many teams today are ineffective. Only about 10% actually achieve intended results. (It’s scary, isn’t it?) Yet many leaders and team members still excuse their ineffectiveness, “We lacked clarity about where to go and how to get there.”
The truth? The teams lacked initiative, resilience, resourcefulness, and the ability to operate in the fog of uncertainty to get to clarity.
Today, we allow ourselves to get stopped by uncertainty (aka fog). Yet there are no guarantees in life or business. Outside‑the‑company factors can impede results, and inside‑the‑company issues, such as silos, factions, and other mischief can do the same. This is how excuses and poor results become the acceptable norm.
But how we relate to uncertainty hurts leadership growth and prevent building a highly effective team.
How to Relate and Navigate Through Fog‑Like Conditions
- Own your role in the outcome, not the story about why it’s hard.
- Stay in motion even when the path isn’t fully visible.
- Take initiative to find solutions and avoid letting issues or situations derail progress.
- The right team. Select team members who have the interest, willingness, and capacity to do the work, not just what’s listed on the resume.
- Ask questions. Curiosity and open‑ended questions clarify concerns and uncover blind spots.
- Hear what people are actually saying, not what you assume they mean. Create psychological safety by listening for learning moments that come from mistakes, miscalculations, or miscommunication … they will spotlight solutions.
- Keep conversations active so issues don’t grow in the fog of uncertainty.
- Awaken inner power. Strengthen confidence by working through self‑doubt instead of waiting for certainty. Also, learn to take time and sit with uncertainty in silent reflection.
- Coachable and responsible. Talk with your executive coach, industry expert, and internal mentor to learn what they and others have done in similar situations. Don’t naysay the people, situation, or process. Remember, these experts are not there to do the work for you.
If you’re leading a team through fog right now, don’t wait for perfect clarity. That’s not leadership; that’s hesitation or avoidance dressed up as caution. Take the next step. Start the conversation. Raise the standard.
©Jeannette Seibly 2026 All Rights Reserved
Jeannette Seibly is a Leadership Results Coach, Talent Advisor, and Business Author with 33 years of experience guiding leaders and executives to achieve exceptional results. She delivers practical coaching and innovative solutions for hiring, leadership development, and performance success. Successful leaders have coaches—connect with Jeannette to elevate your results and impact in 2026.
Equip your team with resilience, accountability, and the ability to perform in the face of uncertainty. Help your leaders move through the fog instead of getting lost or stopped by it. If you’re ready to explore what’s getting in the way, let’s talk. Together, we can identify the blind spots and strengthen you and your team’s ability to achieve intended results.
NOTE: A new presentation, Psychological Safety: The Leadership Advantage You Can’t Ignore, is now available. If you’d like to bring this conversation to your business leaders, bosses, or managers, reach out and I’ll share the details.