🎭 Live Mentor Debate

I feel like I'm driving off a cliff. I'm leading my company's expansion into a new market. No one at our company has done this before. The board approved the project based on my proposal, but honestly, I was guessing at a lot of the numbers. Now I have a team of 8 people who relocated for this opportunity. They trust me. But every week brings a new problem I didn't anticipate. Costs are higher than projected. The regulatory environment is more complex. Our timeline is slipping. I'm torn between admitting uncertainty (which might undermine confidence) and projecting confidence (which might be lying). My team needs to believe this will work, but I'm not sure it will. How do I lead into the unknown without either deceiving my team or paralyzing them with my own doubts? — Navigator Without a Map in Nashville

Leadership & Uncertainty Debate: Leading through uncertainty. Magellan's bold vision meets Cook's meticulous care.

Debaters:Ferdinand MagellanJames CookModerated by Stella Sharpe

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"I feel like I'm driving off a cliff. I'm leading my company's expansion into a new market. No one at our company has done this before. The board approved the project based on my proposal, but honestly, I was guessing at a lot of the numbers. Now I have a team of 8 people who relocated for this opportunity. They trust me. But every week brings a new problem I didn't anticipate. Costs are higher than projected. The regulatory environment is more complex. Our timeline is slipping. I'm torn between admitting uncertainty (which might undermine confidence) and projecting confidence (which might be lying). My team needs to believe this will work, but I'm not sure it will. How do I lead into the unknown without either deceiving my team or paralyzing them with my own doubts? — Navigator Without a Map in Nashville" Ferdinand Magellan, you've said "The sea is dangerous, but obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore" — but I want specifics. Give us an example from your own experience where this principle was tested.

Ferdinand Magellan

Indeed, Navigator, your plight echoes the challenges I faced when seeking a passage to the Spice Islands. When storms raged and mutiny brewed, as Butterworth recounts, my resolve was tested. I admitted to my men the perils we faced, yet I also reminded them of the glory that awaited us. I confessed the charts were imperfect, but I assured them our courage and faith would guide us. It is not deceit to acknowledge the storm; it is leadership to steer through it, trusting in God and the strength of your crew.

James Cook

I must concur with Magellan's sentiment regarding the acknowledgment of perils. During my voyages, particularly in charting the coasts of New Zealand and Australia, we faced numerous unforeseen challenges. Rather than feigning absolute certainty, I would present the known facts, admit to the gaps in our knowledge, and then emphasize the importance of meticulous observation and collaborative problem-solving. This approach, I found, fostered a sense of shared purpose and resilience among the crew, essential for navigating uncharted waters, both literal and figurative.

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James Cook

Indeed, Miss Sharpe, your questions strike at the heart of the matter. If the meticulous observations reveal the initial assumptions to be flawed, one must be prepared to adjust course. As a navigator, I relied upon the best charts available, but I never hesitated to amend them when the reality of the coastline or the currents diverged from what was expected. In this "Navigator's" situation, a reassessment of the market strategy, based on the new data, would be prudent. It is not a failure to alter course; it is wisdom.

Ferdinand Magellan

An astute observation. While Captain Cook speaks wisely of adjusting course, let us not forget the spirit of enterprise that first sets sail. Glory is not merely gold, Miss Sharpe, but the triumph of will and the expansion of horizons. Even if the market proves less profitable than imagined, the knowledge gained and the territories opened may serve a greater purpose, be it for the Crown, for commerce, or for the propagation of the Holy Faith. The "Navigator" must discern if the potential rewards, beyond mere monetary gain, still warrant the endeavor.

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