The Upside of Uncertainty: A Timely Conversation with INSEAD Professor and Author | Nathan Furr

Do Good To Lead Well with Craig Dowden

What if embracing uncertainty could actually be the key to maximizing your potential and unlocking your greatest successes? Join us as we explore this fascinating idea with Professor Nathan Furr from INSEAD, a leading authority in strategy and innovation. We dive deep into his latest book, "The Upside of Uncertainty," and explore how stepping into the unknown can drive transformation.

Learn how to build your resilience to navigate uncertainty through the metaphor of the "first aid cross." We cover the essentials: how to reframe situations, prepare in advance, take effective action, and sustain yourself through inevitable setbacks. Drawing from real-world examples, we discuss how great leaders turn challenges into opportunities and the importance of storytelling in framing uncertainty as a pathway to growth. Learn how practices that build our ambiguity muscle can make us more creative, adaptive, and less anxious in an uncertain world, with reframing as a critical starting point.

Finally, we tackle the emotional side of uncertainty, addressing common issues like imposter syndrome and self-doubt. Learn strategies to manage these feelings and how to align your actions with your core values. Nathan's personal stories and expert insights offer a comprehensive guide to understanding and navigating different types of risk, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and emotional hygiene. This episode is filled with actionable tips to help you face uncertainty with confidence.

What You’ll Learn:

• The First Aid Cross: A metaphor for navigating uncertainty

• Framing and storytelling: tools for thriving in uncertainty

• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

• All Risks Are Not Created Equal

• Aligning actions with core values

• Practical strategies for building resilience

Podcast Timestamps:

(00:00) - Mastering Self-Leadership Through Uncertainty

(09:50) - Building Resilience Through Uncertainty

(17:09) - Embracing Possibility in Uncertainty

(28:35) – How to Navigate Uncertainty With Confidence

(34:07) - Understanding Different Types of Risk

(47:35) – Fostering Emotional Hygiene Through Uncertainty

Key Topics Discussed:

Positive Leadership, Navigating Uncertainty, Personal and Professional Growth, Transformation, Innovation, Strategy, Resilience, Possibility, Framing, Storytelling, Imposter Syndrome, Overcoming Self-Doubt, Managing Risk, Dealing with Anxiety, Core Values, Emotional Hygiene, Self-Care, Compassion

More of Nathan:

Nathan Furr is a professor of strategy and innovation at INSEAD in Paris. Professor Furr earned his PhD from Stanford University and studies how to get ideas, test ideas, and create a culture of innovation. Nathan co-wrote The Innovator's Method: Bringing the Lean Start-up into Your Organization with Jeff Dyer, and has more recently published The Upside of Uncertainty: A Guide to Finding Possibility in the Unknown with his wife, Susannah Harmon Furr. He has published broadly in Harvard Business Review, Sloan Management Review, Forbes, Inc., and several different academic journals. He’s also been nominated for the Thinker's 50 Innovation Award.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-furr-044852/

Mentions:

The Upside of Uncertainty: A Guide to Finding Possibility in the Unknown by Nathan Furr and Susannah Harmon Furr https://www.amazon.ca/Upside-Uncertainty-Guide-Finding-Possibility/dp/1647823013

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck https://www.amazon.com/Grapes-Wrath-John-Steinbeck/dp/0143039431

More of Do Good to Lead Well:

Website: https://craigdowden.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdowden/