Tune In • Reclaim Your Ground • Use Your Voice • Embody Your Leadership
ISSUE NO. 12 | OCTOBER 2026
Leadership Presence in Uncertain Moments
Greetings Reader,
Have you ever been in a situation where everyone seemed to be looking for answers, and you weren't entirely sure what to say?
Maybe a decision needed to be made, circumstances were changing, or someone was looking to you for reassurance.
I've experienced those moments, too.
There's a certain pressure that comes with being someone others depend on. We want to be knowledgeable, capable, and reassuring. We don't want our uncertainty to undermine anyone else's confidence.
But I've been thinking about how much energy we sometimes spend trying to appear certain when what people may need most is our presence.
This month, we're exploring what it means to remain grounded and engaged when we don't have all the answers—and why leadership presence has less to do with appearing confident than we might think.
I'm glad you're here.
Stepping into Your Next Chapter
We often associate leadership presence with confidence.
We picture someone who speaks clearly, makes decisions decisively, and seems comfortable taking charge.
And while those qualities can be valuable, they don't tell the whole story.
Some of the most important moments in leadership happen when the path forward isn't clear.
A difficult decision. An unexpected change. A conversation where someone needs reassurance you aren't sure you can give.
In those moments, it's tempting to believe we need to have an answer before we can offer anything meaningful.
So we hesitate.
We hold back an observation because we're not certain it's right. We wait to contribute until we've thought through every possibility. Or we try to project confidence while privately wondering what we're missing.
But leadership presence isn't the absence of uncertainty.
It's the ability to remain engaged with what's happening without allowing uncertainty to determine whether or how we participate.
Sometimes that means acknowledging what you don't know.
Sometimes it means asking a question that helps everyone think more clearly.
And sometimes it means offering your perspective, even when you recognize that new information may change it.
There's an important distinction between being uncertain and being unprepared. We can prepare thoughtfully, draw on our experience, and still encounter situations that don't have obvious answers.
The question becomes less about How do I make sure I look confident? and more about How can I contribute meaningfully to what this moment requires?
That's where reclaiming your voice and visibility becomes important.
When we stop requiring certainty before allowing ourselves to contribute, we create room for a different kind of confidence—one grounded in judgment, integrity, and the willingness to remain present.
You don't have to know everything to have something valuable to offer.
And you don't have to pretend otherwise to be a credible leader.
“Leadership presence isn't about having every answer. It's about being willing to show up when the answers aren't clear.”
-Amy J. Bray
Try This...
Think about a recent situation where you felt uncertain about what to say or do.
Perhaps you were in a meeting, facing a decision, or navigating a conversation that didn't have an obvious solution.
Before judging how you handled it, consider these questions:
- What was I uncertain about? Was it the information, the outcome, someone else's reaction, or my own judgment?
- What did I feel pressured to demonstrate? Confidence? Competence? Reassurance? Control?
- How did that pressure influence my behavior? Did I hold back, speak too quickly, overexplain, or avoid acknowledging what I didn't know?
- What might have been a more grounded response? Perhaps asking a thoughtful question, sharing what I did know, or acknowledging what still needed to be understood.
Now think about an uncertain moment you may encounter in the coming week.
Choose one way you want to show up differently.
You don't need to rehearse the perfect response. Simply decide what being present, honest, and engaged could look like.
Sometimes reclaiming your voice begins by giving yourself permission to use it before you're completely certain.
A Question I Am Sitting With
Where might I be withholding my voice because I'm waiting to feel more certain than the situation allows?
TRUE Story
One of the things I've noticed over the years is how easily we can confuse being knowledgeable with needing to know everything.
In my work in human resources, leadership development, coaching, and mentoring, I've had plenty of opportunities to encounter questions that didn't have straightforward answers.
And I've learned that saying “I don't know” doesn't have to end a conversation.
Sometimes it's the beginning of a better one.
It can open the door to asking what information is missing, considering a different perspective, or working through something together rather than feeling responsible for solving it alone.
I think there's a particular kind of pressure that comes with experience. The more people see us as capable, the more we may feel that we're supposed to have answers readily available.
But experience doesn't eliminate uncertainty.
What it can give us is the judgment to recognize when we need more information, the confidence to acknowledge our limitations, and the willingness to remain engaged while we figure things out.
I've come to appreciate that there's a difference between needing to prove I know something and being genuinely useful in the moment.
Sometimes the most valuable thing we can offer isn't an answer.
It's the willingness to stay in the conversation.
A New Home for Leading TRUE
Before we close, I have a little news to share.
Beginning in November, Leading TRUE will have a new home on Substack.
The heart of this newsletter isn't changing. I'll continue sharing reflections on leadership, clarity, confidence, and the experience of aligning who we are with how we lead.
What's changing is simply where we'll gather.
I've appreciated having you here, and I'd love for you to continue the journey with me.
[ Continue With Me on Substack ]
Ready for Your Next Chapter?
Leadership presence isn't about having all the answers. Sometimes it's about trusting yourself enough to contribute even when the path isn't clear.
If you'd like to explore how these ideas connect to your own leadership journey, I invite you to learn more about my Leading TRUE framework.
Until we meet again in Beyond the Title, remember: you don't need a new title to lead differently.
In your corner,
P.S. I'd love for you to join me on Substack! Visit Beyond the Title to explore my new publication and subscribe for free to continue receiving my reflections on leadership and professional growth.