Uncertainty: The good, the bad, and how to deal with it

Working in agile environments requires us to be comfortable dealing with certain levels of uncertainty - which varies depending on the nature of the work that needs to be done.

Drawing on experience from working on an open-ended discovery project at the Guardian, this talk explores why humans find that stressful and children are brilliant at finding useful strategies to deal with it.

You'll explore some less helpful responses that are frequently observed in software development and suggestions on how to reframe those with empathy.

Participant takeaways:

• Recognise and manage the stress associated with uncertainty to avoid premature decisions.
• Balance predictable processes with the joy and motivation that come from unpredictable, positive outcomes.
• Draw inspiration from children's natural approach to learning and discovery in uncertain situations.
• Approach interactions with different stakeholders empathetically, understanding their need for certainty and control, while guiding them through the agile process.

Themes:
Communication, Uncertainty, Productivity, Influence