What is `safe uncertainty` and how to embrace it?

In a world defined by rapid change, ambiguity, and complexity, leaders and coaches face a daily challenge: navigating uncertainty without losing direction or confidence. This is where the concept of safe uncertainty becomes a transformative approach. 

Coined by psychologist Barry Mason in the context of systemic therapy, safe uncertainty refers to the ability to remain open to the unknown while maintaining a sense of emotional and psychological security. 

Rather than seeking control through rigid certainty or falling into helpless chaos, safe uncertainty allows us to stay grounded while exploring new possibilities. 

In leadership and professional coaching, this mindset becomes not only relevant but essential. 

Turning Uncertainty Into Opportunity 

In leadership, many default to “safe certainty”—over-relying on fixed plans, predictions, and control. However, in volatile environments, this mindset can quickly become brittle.

 By contrast, safe uncertainty fosters adaptability, creativity, and emotional intelligence. 

Leaders who embrace it can hold space for ambiguity while still offering clarity and confidence to their teams. 

For example, a team leader in a tech startup facing a major pivot may not know all the answers. Instead of pretending they do, they can acknowledge the unknown while co-creating a new vision with the team. “Here’s what we know, here’s what we’re figuring out, and here’s how we’ll learn together.” This builds trust and psychological safety while also modelling agile leadership. 

Recent research in organisational psychology, including work by Amy Edmondson on psychological safety and Carol Dweck on growth mindset, supports this approach. Edmondson emphasises that environments where individuals feel safe to take interpersonal risks, like admitting uncertainty, tend to foster higher learning, innovation, and performance. Meanwhile, Dweck’s work reminds us that when leaders and team members treat uncertainty as a space for learning rather than a threat, resilience and engagement rise. 

Beyond Knowledge in Coaching 

Safe uncertainty is a core stance for professional coaches. It allows the coach to remain nondirective, curious, and co-creative rather than fall into the trap of solving the client’s problems. 

When a client is facing a crossroads, a skilled coach doesn’t impose solutions but instead holds a space where new perspectives can emerge. For instance, a client may be struggling with whether to leave a stable job for a more values-aligned but uncertain career path. 

The coach who models safe uncertainty might say, “It’s okay not to know yet. What possibilities open up when we stop needing a clear answer right now?” 

This invites deeper reflection and encourages the client to explore their inner resources and courage. 

Research in neuroscience also supports this coaching approach. Studies have shown that when people feel psychologically safe and are encouraged to explore without judgment, the brain shifts from defensive reactivity to a more reflective, creative state, key for effective problem-solving and transformation. 

Conclusion 

Safe uncertainty is not about having no direction—it’s about holding direction lightly, with openness. Whether we take a deep dive into leadership development or coaching, it empowers people to face change with curiosity rather than fear. It turns uncertainty from a threat into a playground for growth, learning, and innovation. 

In today’s world, the ability to stand steady in the unknown may be one of the most powerful skills of all. 

Dealing with the unknown can be learned, and both leaders and coaches can embrace it as an opportunity to improve their skills and create a better learning environment that allows them to move towards their goals with confidence.

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