Let’s talk about something that’s quietly hijacking confidence for a lot of leaders right now: uncertainty.
It’s not just in the headlines. It’s in hiring decisions. It's in our team dynamics. It's in the 2AM thoughts that ask, “Am I doing enough?”
As a coach, I’m hearing it every day.
As an entrepreneur, I’ve lived it.
Back when I was $600K in debt, uncertainty wasn’t a concept—it was a constant. I tolerated toxic people, chaotic systems, and the lie that I had to do it all alone. That season taught me something powerful:
What we tolerate becomes what we normalize—and eventually, what defines us.
From Tolerating to Transforming
Here’s the thing about uncertain times:
They don’t just create fear.
They reveal what you’ve been tolerating.
- That energy-draining client you’ve been too afraid to fire
- The team member who’s plateaued, but still coasting
- The leadership role you’ve outgrown, but keep holding onto
- The fear-based pattern—perfectionism, avoidance, control—that’s stealing your clarity
If you’re tolerating it, you’re empowering it.
Uncertainty invites us to stop settling and start getting real.
So, What’s the Path Forward?
You don’t need a 10-year plan. You need a repeatable process that works in real-time, even when the fog rolls in.
Here’s what I teach my clients—and what I use myself when fear tries to take the wheel:
🧠 **1. Mindset First: Psychological Safety Starts Inside You
**When fear spikes, your amygdala takes over—it’s the survival part of your brain that screams fight, flight, freeze, or *freak out.
*But if we pause—breathe, name the fear, and choose awareness—we can shift into the prefrontal cortex, the creative, solution-focused part of the brain.
That’s where grounded decisions are made.
That’s where possibility lives.
That’s where leaders lead.
🔍 **2. Audit Your Tolerations
**Grab a pen. No filter, no fluff.
What are you putting up with—in your team, your calendar, or yourself—that drains your energy and limits your growth?
To help, I created a free tool called the Toleration Audit Worksheet. It’s simple, powerful, and it will help you identify the hidden costs in your business and leadership right now.
👉 Download the Toleration Audit Worksheet here
(Bring it to your next leadership meeting. Use it with your coach. Or just do it solo over a cup of coffee—it’s a game changer.)
⚙️ **3. Embrace Iterative Action: Use the Active Learning Cycle
**This is a core tool from my book From Suck to Success. It's the framework I’ve used to coach hundreds of leaders back to momentum
Here’s how it works:
- Reality – What’s not working?
- Intention – What would I prefer to see instead?
- Strategy – What’s one experiment I can run to close the gap?
- Feedback – What actually happened? What did I learn?
- Adjustment – What do I try next?
No guessing. No freezing. No white-knuckling.
Just action → feedback → growth.
It’s like batting practice. You don’t need to hit a home run—just keep swinging with intention.
📚 **4. Borrow Courage from the Greats
**Dr. Daniel Friedland taught me how to lead from your higher brain, even in the midst of stress.
Brené Brown showed us that vulnerability is a strength—not a liability.
Patrick Lencioni reminds us that psychological safety isn’t a luxury for high-performing teams—it’s the oxygen.
Bonus Insight for Institutional Change Agents
If you're leading inside a system that’s stuck—where fear is baked into the culture, and change feels glacial—start small.
- Start with your own tolerations.
- Start with one brave conversation.
- Start with curiosity over control.
Your courage to model change gives others permission to do the same.
Your Challenge This Week
FOCUS – What’s the one thing you’re tolerating that’s costing you clarity?
ALIGN – What’s the bold truth you’ve been avoiding?
ACT – Run it through the Active Learning Cycle. Don’t wait for perfect. Just take the swing. Download the Toleration Audit Worksheet here
Reply and tell me: What’s the #1 challenge you’re facing right now?
Let me leave you with this:
What’s one toleration that, if you let it go, would free you up to lead with strength, clarity, and courage?
Let’s find it—and let it go.
With gratitude, Todd
