Embrace unstructured problem spaces.

I've solved a lot of messy problems over the years. Domains I knew nothing about. Spaces that didn't come with instructions or convenient constraints. And what I've learned is this: You need to embrace unstructured, chaotic, uncoupled problem spaces. That's where you learn the most the fastest.

Over time, I've built confidence and bravery from doing this repeatedly. I've earned the ability to say, "I don't know where this is going yet, but let's figure it out together!"

There's a saying I use: you can only listen once. Because the moment you open your mouth, the feedback loop changes. People will shift their language, reshape their opinions, and tailor their words based on what they think you want to hear. The moment you reveal who you are or what you know, the authenticity of their input starts to shift.

So when I was consulting and entering a new domain, I kept my mouth shut. I asked questions—to as many people as I could. I absorbed everything. Content, context, tone. I became a sponge. Only after gathering enough unfiltered data would I start to talk. Because by then, I had enough of the landscape mapped to move with intention.

And then I would act. Because in unstructured spaces, action is what gives you orientation. You won't know if it'll work…And that's fine. Just move. Start ugly. Try something. Do anything.

Some of the most fun I've had professionally has been in those moments where I had no idea what I was doing at first. And some of those efforts failed. And when they did, I didn't pretend they didn't. I said, "Well, that didn't work. What now?" That transparency builds trust. That willingness to keep going, even without a clear answer, builds leadership.

When you're leading in an unstructured space, you have to keep your head above water. Or at least keep your eyes and mouth above it. You need to see what's happening, and you need to keep talking. Communicate constantly. Narrate what you see, what you think, what you're unsure about. People need to hear it. In the messiness of unstructured spaces, communication is your compass.