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Leadership & Management

Leading Through Ambiguity and Change

Leaders today rarely have complete information or stable plans. This course develops the mindset and practical tools to lead when direction is unclear: making sense of complex situations, setting provisional direction, experimenting safely, communicating honestly about uncertainty and keeping teams focused and resilient while circumstances keep shifting.

5 days Classroom or live online English
Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants
Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

Download course PDF
Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Teams look to leaders most when the way forward is unclear. You will learn how to provide direction and confidence without pretending to have all the answers.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

  • Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
  • Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
  • Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.
Course methodology

How you will learn.

Complexity simulations, case discussions, reflective exercises, peer coaching and practical planning for participants’ own ambiguous challenges.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Recognise different types of uncertainty and complexity
  • Make sense of ambiguous situations using structured tools
  • Set direction through principles and short planning cycles
  • Communicate openly about uncertainty while sustaining confidence
  • Support team resilience during prolonged change
  • Learn quickly from experiments and adjust course
Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

  • Middle and senior managers
  • Project and programme leaders
  • Change and transformation leads
  • High-potential future leaders
  • Team leaders in fast-changing sectors
Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

  • Sense-making
  • Adaptive leadership
  • Transparent communication
  • Resilience building
  • Decision agility
Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Understanding Ambiguity

  1. 09:00–10:08Simple, complicated and complex situations
  2. 10:08–11:00The leader’s role in uncertainty
  3. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  4. 11:30–11:45The leader’s role in uncertainty (continued)
  5. 11:45–12:53Personal reactions to ambiguity
  6. 12:53–14:00Exercise: mapping your current challenge

Day 2Making Sense

  1. 09:00–10:08Gathering diverse perspectives
  2. 10:08–11:00Scenario thinking
  3. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  4. 11:30–11:45Scenario thinking (continued)
  5. 11:45–12:53Separating facts, assumptions and unknowns
  6. 12:53–14:00Workshop: sense-making session

Day 3Setting Direction

  1. 09:00–10:08Principles instead of detailed plans
  2. 10:08–11:00Short planning cycles
  3. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  4. 11:30–11:45Short planning cycles (continued)
  5. 11:45–12:53Safe-to-fail experiments
  6. 12:53–14:00Simulation: leading in a shifting market

Day 4Leading People Through Change

  1. 09:00–10:08Communicating uncertainty honestly
  2. 10:08–11:00Maintaining trust and motivation
  3. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  4. 11:30–11:45Maintaining trust and motivation (continued)
  5. 11:45–12:53Supporting resilience
  6. 12:53–14:00Role play: difficult team briefing

Day 5Learning and Adapting

  1. 09:00–10:08Review and learning loops
  2. 10:08–11:00Knowing when to change course
  3. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  4. 11:30–11:45Knowing when to change course (continued)
  5. 11:45–12:53Personal leadership routines
  6. 12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Rome 16 Nov - 20 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 16 Nov - 20 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Istanbul 11 Jan - 15 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 11 Jan - 15 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Vienna 1 Feb - 5 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,940.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Feb - 5 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Barcelona 22 Feb - 26 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,840.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 22 Feb - 26 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Cape Town 8 Mar - 12 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Mar - 12 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Dubai 29 Mar - 2 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 29 Mar - 2 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Cape Town 19 Apr - 23 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 19 Apr - 23 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Barcelona 10 May - 14 May 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,840.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 10 May - 14 May 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 31 May - 4 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 31 May - 4 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 14 Jun - 18 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 14 Jun - 18 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Rome 5 Jul - 9 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 5 Jul - 9 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
London 26 Jul - 30 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 26 Jul - 30 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Dubai 16 Aug - 20 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
€3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 16 Aug - 20 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Vienna 6 Sept - 10 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,940.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 6 Sept - 10 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Dubai 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Rome 11 Oct - 15 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 11 Oct - 15 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
London 1 Nov - 5 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Nov - 5 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Cape Town 22 Nov - 26 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 22 Nov - 26 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Paris 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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