Unlocking the Potential of High-Performing Teams: How Embracing the Unknown Fuels Wellbeing and Success

Do you want to know the key to unlocking your team’s potential? 

Spoiler Alert: The answer lies in embracing the unknown. 

In today’s rapidly changing world, especially in sectors like healthcare and Human Resources (HR), uncertainty is the only constant. Burnout is increasingly rampant, from disengaged employees to tired leaders, and traditional solutions often fall short. 

What if the solution isn’t just about doing less but about developing a different way of thinking?

 What if the key to thriving, both personally and professionally, lies in our ability to embrace ambiguity?

What if I told you that embracing these ambiguous situations could actually boost your wellbeing and unlock the potential of a high-performing team? 

We all have those moments where life throws a curveball. Maybe it’s a sudden change at work, an unexpected detour on your commute, or a project that shifts directions midstream. These moments of uncertainty can be unsettling, even anxiety-inducing. 

This is where Tolerance of Ambiguity (TOA) comes in, and it is one of the most important skills you can develop for 2025 and beyond. 

TOA is simply the ability to feel comfortable when things are unclear or lack definite solutions. It’s about how we react when there’s a lack of reliable, credible, or adequate information. It’s not about loving chaos but rather seeing uncertainty as an opportunity rather than a threat.

The Wellbeing Benefits of Tolerance of Ambiguity

High tolerance of ambiguity (TOA) is linked to increased job satisfaction. When we can see ambiguous situations as opportunities rather than threats, it can greatly reduce stress and anxiety. 

A high TOA allows you to remain focused and confident in new situations. Research shows that individuals with higher TOA tend to experience lower stress, greater resilience, and more positive interpretations of ambiguous situations, while people with low tolerance of ambiguity tend to experience lower wellbeing.

Mindfulness and relaxation techniques can enhance emotional intelligence and creativity, while a variety of different practices can help with assertiveness, which can all contribute to a higher tolerance of ambiguity. Studies show that higher tolerance of ambiguity, combined with self-compassion, is protective against burnout.

The Science Behind Tolerance of Ambiguity: More Than Just “Going With the Flow”

Why is ambiguity so stressful? When things are unclear, our brains go into overdrive, trying to predict every possible outcome. 

Not too long ago in history, not knowing an outcome could have been fatal (hello, sabre tooth tigers!). In the modern day, our sources of ambiguity are things like poorly worded emails, ambiguous signs, or getting lost on our way to lunch. Our instincts haven’t caught up. We don’t know the difference, and this constant uncertainty is exhausting! 

People who are more comfortable with ambiguity experience less stress and anxiety. They’re better at handling the unexpected twists and turns of life. It’s not that they are immune to stress, but they are more resilient; they interpret situations more positively and are better at coping. Is this you? Or are you the person who has to review the menu before agreeing to eat at a restaurant?I’ve seen this first hand as a veterinarian – colleagues who can’t sleep because of worry about cases, not knowing if the treatment will work. Heck, I’ve been there myself many times.

In healthcare and complex systems, it is impossible to remove all ambiguity. We must learn to set a course based on best practices and the information available and know when to adjust or adapt if needed.

The ability to tolerate ambiguity involves multiple facets:

• The ability to manage our emotional reactions
• Assess when we might be mentally overwhelmed
• Pay attention to negative emotions when they occur
• Adjust our actions to find clarity.

The kicker? You can’t get better at handling ambiguity unless you start handling some ambiguity. 

Leveraging Ambiguity to Thrive in Leadership

In healthcare (including our veterinary friends), doctors and nurses deal with complex cases, often without complete information, and must make quick decisions that have a real impact. 

Studies show that physicians who are less tolerant of ambiguity tend to order more tests and may not adhere to evidence-based guidelines

Recently on a busy veterinary ER shift over the holidays, I was working with Mary (name changed). Mary was an incredible, competent veterinarian and a friend. Mary had a lower tolerance of ambiguity than I did, and sometimes this impacted the speed of her response. 

Standing in front of Armen, the German Shepherd who had just been hit by a car, the seconds felt like ages. We were confident that there was air trapped between his lungs and his body wall, interfering with his ability to breathe and expand the lungs. 

Mary prepped the chest as required and proceeded to count the rib spaces to identify the best placement site. These are important steps not to be missed. 

However, in Mary’s desire to be right, to remove all ambiguity, she proceeded to count the rib spaces again, pause, and consider. 

I urged her to “Stick in the tube already!” as I monitored Armen’s breathing. While the old adage “measure twice, cut once” is good advice, there becomes a point where you have to move forward. 

Mary expertly placed the chest tube, as I knew she would, and Aremen’s breathing improved. He eventually survived, thanks to the expert care provided by the clinic. 

The same principles are true in the business world, where ambiguity is a daily reality. 

Those with a higher tolerance for ambiguity tend to be more comfortable with the complexities and nuances of their work, have better outcomes, and experience less burnout. Organizations facing strong competition, constant technological advancements, and complex consumer behaviour need to be able to navigate and embrace ambiguity in order to thrive.

For example, 3M CEO George Buckley scaled back the rigid Six Sigma process implemented by his predecessor. 

He recognized that true creativity and innovation often come from the messy, unpredictable process of challenging existing norms, and was willing to face the ambiguity of a less rigid process.

When leaders learn to develop their own TOA, they are more likely to foster a culture of trust and autonomy which is highly beneficial for the whole organization and the employee’s experience. 

Allowing employees to explore situations and providing resources and support can help them develop their own tolerance of ambiguity and self-reflection. When leaders are mindful, they can also have a broader frame of reference, seeing the big picture as well as the details. This kind of leadership can help employees feel more connected to their work, happier, and more innovative and productive.

In my role of technical services, I was part of a team charged with providing an impactful experience for a high value client. 

I suggested we try a radical approach over a dry and boring presentation. We crafted a “choose your own adventure” style presentation, complete with voting paddles for the attendees. 

The experience involved volunteers from the audience to role play, and the content was designed so that our main messages were highlighted, regardless of how the audience chose to proceed. 

One of my colleagues was nervous and unsure about a radical approach (aka low Tolerance of Ambiguity) 

“What if they don’t like it?”

“What if it’s not what they are expecting?” 

The stress of the unknown prevented my colleague from taking a risk and from using creativity to advance our business goals. This is a very common reaction. But the risk paid off, attendees loved the presentation and had a lot of fun learning in the process.

Unlocking Innovation Through Ambiguity

Innovation often arises from tiny, incremental changes that lead to massive results. 

When I worked at Purina, a simple adjustment to the thickness of the cat litter boxes saved millions of dollars in shipping fees. It’s these small changes that add up over time and can scale to massive efficiencies. 

Ambiguity can be a catalyst for creative problem-solving. The University of Queensland found that creativity is connected to all nine dimensions of tolerance of ambiguity. When we’re faced with unclear situations, it forces us to think differently to develop new solutions.

When organizations and individuals are open to new perspectives, they are more likely to develop new approaches to challenges. Embracing ambiguity is essential to creativity and innovation within a culture of experimentation, risk-taking, and learning.

Cultivating Tolerance of Ambiguity to Build Resilient Teams

Here are some actionable strategies to increase your tolerance of ambiguity:

• Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness and relaxation techniques can enhance emotional intelligence and creativity. Be present in the moment and observe your reactions to uncertainty without judgment, and notice how it allows you to consider other possibilities instead of just reacting immediately.
• Reframe negative thoughts: Instead of seeing ambiguity as a threat, try to see it as an opportunity for growth and learning. Recognize that it’s okay not to know all the answers. I also find that risk assessment helps me to move forward:
  • Am I going to die? 
  • Is someone else going to die if I take this risk? 
  • What’s the worst that can happen? 
  • And if the risk is too great, how can I scale back the idea to implement a smaller test option?
• Step outside your comfort zone: Seek out new experiences, take on challenging projects, and embrace new perspectives. This will help you build confidence in your ability to try new things and face the unknown. How do you get better at feeling uncomfortable? Practice!
  •  If you’re looking for inspiration, my book goes through the 5-step DANCE framework for simple habits you can implement in just 5 minutes a day to expand your comfort zone. 
• (For Leaders) Practice what you preach: Leaders need to model the behaviours that they want to see. Share and show examples of moving forward in ambiguity, and allow time for reflection on ideas.
  • Bite your tongue when you feel the words “that will never work” or “we don’t have the budget” are about to come out of your mouth. 
  • Learn how to explore new ideas
  • Allow your team to take small risks to use their creativity
  • Provide necessary resources and support.
• (For Leaders) Focus on Emotional Intelligence: Individuals who are emotionally empowered recognize their feelings, can reason through complex concepts, and more effectively express their emotional states to others. Help your teams develop their emotional intelligence through training and open communication.

What Can You Do Today? Quick Wins for Improving Tolerance of Ambiguity

• Read Fiction – Check out this selection of books about how to try new things (even if you’re scared) 
• Learn a new language – learn how to say “good morning” to a colleague or friend in their first language.
• Art Appreciation – Visit an art gallery or museum, in person or online – Check out a virtual tour of the Louvre!
• Create anything – Remember those macaroni and orange juice container pen holders? Sure, why not? Draw something (take a tutorial online), throw a spice in your meal you’ve never tried, or build a snowman. Any artistic act is a practice of facing ambiguity. It doesn’t have to be good, I promise. You don’t know how pottery will turn out until you fire it and engaging in creativity is one way to practice trying something new without knowing how it will turn out in a low stakes way.

Support for Embracing the Unknown – Unlock Your Potential

Ready to leverage ambiguity for positive change in your workplace?

Contact me to schedule a call and I’ll give you some unique suggestions for how you can embrace and build ambiguity in your team.

Uncertainty and constant change are inevitable. By cultivating our Tolerance of Ambiguity, we not only reduce our stress and anxiety but also unlock our creative potential for innovation and perform better at work. It’s time to see ambiguity not as a roadblock but as a pathway to wellbeing and success. 

This is a journey and it starts with taking that first step into the unknown.