by Michael C. Hyter, The ELC President & CEO

Certainty Is Comfortable—But Comfort Doesn’t Create Growth

As leaders, it’s natural to want certainty. It feels smart. Strategic. Safe.

But here’s the truth: when we wait for certainty, we slow ourselves down. We miss opportunities.

Growth doesn’t come from playing it safe. It comes from stepping into what’s new, what’s uncomfortable, and what’s not guaranteed. That’s where real leadership begins.

Success Is Iterative, Not Guaranteed

The most successful leaders and organizations don’t wait for perfect conditions. They test, learn, and adapt. They understand that failure is not the opposite of success—it’s part of the process.

Think of the tech industry, where agile development and rapid prototyping have replaced rigid planning. Or entrepreneurs who pivot multiple times before finding product-market fit. Their success didn’t come from knowing what would work—it came from trying what might.

Leadership Requires Courage, Not Certainty

As leaders, our role isn’t to eliminate uncertainty—it’s to navigate it.

That means making decisions with incomplete information, trusting our instincts, and empowering our teams to experiment. It means creating a culture where failure is not feared but valued as a learning tool.

When people are free to take risks, they’re more likely to innovate. And when innovation thrives, so does success.

Reframing the Question

Instead of asking:
“What’s going to work?”

Ask:

• “What’s worth trying?”
• “What can we learn from this?”
• “How can we adapt if it doesn’t work?”

These questions shift the focus from certainty to possibility—from fear to curiosity.

Final Thought

Success doesn’t come from knowing—it comes from doing. From trying, failing, learning, and growing.

The leaders who embrace uncertainty are the ones who shape the future—not just react to it.