We are consistently asked for clients, when they are looking to bring talent into their organisations, for people who are comfortable and can effectively ‘work in the grey’.
On the flip side, we also see numerous job seekers who struggle where they will not have a defined Position Description or where employers are unable to clearly identify all components of the role and opportunity.
‘A job description is never black and white, nor is there ever certainty in a role we agree to take on and what we will face whilst there. Whilst some people feel more comfortable than others with ambiguity, this is something you can work on, in terms of gaining higher comfort and exposing yourself to environments that push you out of your comfort zone’.
Whilst this can be an ambiguous topic in itself, there are some key concepts and tips to assist you in getting more comfortable with the unknown and working with less parameters, direction and structure that may help you and your teams thrive in these environments.
Why is working in the grey an opportunity vs something to be fearful of?
- Often with less parameters and less direction we create room for creativity and different ways of thinking and problem solving.
- This can really allow organisations to focus on who they are and what they want to deliver, without preconceived ideas of how to achieve this, focusing on the ‘WHY’ and the ‘HOW’.
- This absolutely builds resilience and adaptable mindsets, which are critical as we now navigate more and more complex scenarios and face situations, challenges and scenarios that have never before been experienced. E.g.: Covid pandemics, technology we have never seen previously and new ways of working and engaging on a global stage.
The three C’s to tackle the Grey/ Ambiguity:
- Curiosity First : Ask lots of questions and seek learnings and potential upside – Is there something to learn from this situation? What are you / the organisation trying to achieve? What is the right thing to do, aligned to your personal and the business brand? What can you control and affect?
- Collaborate : Try engaging with your peers and colleagues/ teams and enlisting the help of others, with an openness to different ideas and ways of tackling an issue or opportunity.
- Create Solutions: Position and visualise the future state and work backwards, creating a loose roadmap of how to achieve this with different scenarios, according to potential obstacles, change or contingencies taken into account. It is ok to have option A, B & C.
Often working in environments where you gain more exposure to less structure, direction and with high change/ ambiguity will assist you in your journey of confidence around this and sometimes recognising this is an area of stretch and discomfort will help you seek these opportunities out, and as a result, elevate your experience, resilience and leadership ability.
See change, ambiguity and opportunities to work in the grey as an opportunity to stretch yourself, develop new skills, challenge your thinking and with a genuine learning mindset. You may soon realise that something that concerned you previously has taken you and your career to new heights!
