We know that leaders who are indecisive can stall growth and progress in an organization. But, those that are unclear are just as harmful. Being vague, aloof, or just plain unable to clearly convey a direction leaves people hanging, for which there are consequences.
Back in grad school, I read a journal article about WWII and the German bombing of the UK. London, of course, was the primary target. After the war ended, a research study was done concerning the high number of reported cases of stomach ulcers in the London area. Actually, the bulk of the ulcers reported came from individuals who lived in the suburbs around London. Oddly, a very low number of ulcer cases were reported from those who lived in the city of London itself.
The researcher concluded that there was a specific reason why those in the suburbs had a high rate of ulcers vs. those in the city. City dwellers were certain that if bombs fell on London, they would be impacted, hurt, or killed. They were so certain that they stopped worrying about it. Those who lived on the outskirts of London weren’t so sure. They figured if the bombs hit the inner city, maybe, just maybe, they would live far enough away that they wouldn’t be impacted, hurt, or killed. But then again, maybe they would be at risk. So, this uncertainty brought on stomach ulcers as the suburbanites worried themselves to the point of impacting their health.
So what’s the takeaway? Uncertainty is deadly to an organization. If the leaders are unclear in their messages, those following them will be uneasy, to say the least. People need to know what the plan or direction is. Have you ever left a meeting unsure of what decision, if any, was made? Have you ever walked away following a discussion with the boss and not be clear on what s/he said, or decided? Uncertainty costs organizations in the form of lost productivity, which, of course, translates negatively to the bottom line. Uncertainty in the workplace may not threaten anyone’s life, but it certainly can threaten the health and survival of the organization.