How Being Intentional Helped Me Navigate Uncertainty

It's not what you do, but HOW you choose to do it

It's Tuesday, newsletter day. And I didn't manage to finish my newsletter.

I went to Padel instead.

This was a very intentional choice. I can't go Thursday, so I had to go today. Because it's my happy place. I went even though my toddler is sick, my newsletter not done, and a lot of other things on the Tuesday to-do list.

I tried to finish the newsletter but then chose, very intentionally, padel and more sleep (sick toddler at home – if anyone can relate).

Finding Control in Uncertain Times

With this choice (and inspiration from podcasts and conversations), I came up with the topic of the week, linked to the topic of the month:

How being intentional helps you in uncertain times.

In recent weeks, I've realized: the more intentional I am about things and the clearer my priorities, the more I can "eat the elephant" step by step.

But what does being intentional mean?

"Done with intention or on purpose. Purposeful."

Purposeful.

This is exactly what I need in uncertain times.

Controlling what I do. Being purposeful and intentional about how I approach things.

I might not always be able to influence the outcome, but I can influence how I go in there.

When we're intentional, what we do becomes something we're happy with or okay with.

And this links back to self-confidence. At least for me, being more intentional gave me the self-confidence I needed to deal with uncertainty.

Choosing Events with Purpose

Instead of staying home recycling old solutions, I noticed several events aligning with my current journey.

I intentionally joined them – the power circles, AI workshop, personal branding session, padel tournament, wine with a friend, and Mother's Day with my son. Each gave me energy and practical tools.

This inspired me to write about the importance of being intentional. We can't solve everything, but we can be intentional.

When Intentionality Challenges Us

Being intentional isn't always easy. With motherhood, autopilot mode is to always be there. Yesterday my son was sick, but I still went to play padel – because I needed it and he was in good hands.

With learning? I'm overwhelmed by options (books, videos, courses, degrees) and end up doing nothing. That's an area where I'd like to be more intentional.

The Science of Living Intentionally

The science behind setting intentions reveals it as a powerful tool for navigating uncertainty.

A 2018 study found that when we set clear, achievable intentions, we engage in a form of motivated reasoning that can heighten our sense of control even when external circumstances feel chaotic.

Research shows that people who maintain a clear sense of purpose during uncertain times not only manage stress better but also make more consistent decisions.

We can think of our intentions as a compass that keeps us moving in the right direction when the path ahead isn't clear.

Being Intentional Through the NEW WORK Framework

Looking back at last week's events, I noticed a pattern – each one taught me something about being intentional during uncertainty. Even better, they perfectly aligned with our NEW WORK framework:

• Strong ME: How to intentionally shape your personal brand

• Strong WE: How to intentionally influence others (without controlling them)

• Strong US: How to be intentional with AI in an uncertain future

I'm only scratching the surface today – if any area particularly resonates with you, let me know and I'll explore it deeper in a future newsletter!

Strong ME: Being Intentional with Your Personal Brand

I started this week with a bang. I attended a personal branding workshop with Maha Abouelenein, and it was all about being intentional in how we present ourselves to the world.

"There is a huge difference between 'showing up' and 'showing up with intention'."

That's exactly what I was struggling with (as a mom, working professional and also a friend) – sometimes I am showing up, but it’s on autopilot.

Maha defined personal branding as "the unique combination of skills, experience, and personality that you want the world to see."

The key word is "want" – it requires intention. It's not about what accidentally comes across, but what you deliberately choose to share.

Her advice centered on three intentional practices:

• Be consistent: Align your brand with your core values

• Show up strategically: Have a purpose for every networking event or post

• Own your space: Create a cohesive presence across all platforms

"People follow people — not companies, roles, or job titles," she reminded us.

The question that's still with me: "Are you building the 'you' that others want to follow?"

This connects perfectly to what I shared earlier about being intentional in our choices.

When I feel overwhelmed by learning opportunities or default to autopilot in motherhood, I'm missing that intentional step of asking: "What version of myself am I building right now?"

Strong WE: Being Intentional with Influence

My coach challenged me this week on something I wrote in the last newsletter (and yes, he reads them, thanks Tom!). I mentioned that we can't really influence others.

It turns out I was confusing "control" with "influence."

"A control relationship is based on a hierarchy of roles. An influencer relationship is based on credibility and earned trust."

This distinction resonated deeply with my intentionality journey.

We can't control others (trying usually backfires), but we can intentionally influence them through our words, actions, and the quality of our relationships.

We won’t know the outcome, but we can try to nudge it into a certain direction. By being very intentional about our behaviour and our words.

Harvard Business Review defines influence as "the ability to affect the character, development, or behavior of someone or something," requiring "a strong emotional connection with yourself and others."

That self-connection is the intentional part – knowing your values and purpose before attempting to influence.

This is why Time magazine's most influential people aren't just CEOs but leaders like Michelle Obama and Jacinda Ardern.

They understand that effective influence comes not from controlling others but from intentionally:

• Building genuine trust and credibility

• Demonstrating empathy and understanding

• Communicating with authenticity and consistency

Just as with personal branding, the key is showing up with intention.

Whether that is with your husband, your manager, your kids, your friends:

try to not default into autopilot but be intentional about how to engage with others.

And you might realize the impact it has on your relationships. Still learning myself, but will keep you posted.

Strong US: Being Intentional with AI

AI creates uncertainty, which makes intentionality more crucial than ever – not just for individuals but for society as a whole.

When most people use AI, they approach it without clear intention. They ask vague questions, accept whatever comes back, and stay safely within their existing thought patterns.

"The biggest limit on AI is your own – staying in a box. Push yourself to think differently. The capabilities of AI are incredible, and we're not pushing it because we're not testing the limits."

This connects directly to my learning challenges I mentioned earlier. When faced with too many options, I freeze.

The same happens with AI – its limitless potential can paralyze us if we don't approach it with intention.

Some key insights from the workshop:

• Prompt engineering is becoming the new art form – being intentional about how you communicate with AI determines what you get back

• Critical thinking is more important than ever – as AI gets trained on biased data, we need to intentionally question its outputs

• Every organization will soon have a "hybrid workforce" – humans and AI working together intentionally will define the future workplace. Become an agent boss of several AI agents

• Asking "why" repeatedly matters – perform root cause analysis before accepting AI-generated content to avoid deepfakes and misinformation

"Are we there yet with AI?"

"No, but it's a journey."

Like any journey, it requires intentional movement rather than drifting.

Remember my overwhelming feeling with learning options?

The solution suggested: "Create an agent to check in with you regularly."

In other words, use AI intentionally to combat my own lack of intentionality!

What I'm taking away from all three areas – personal branding, influence, and AI – is that intentionality isn't just a nice-to-have.

Being intentional is becoming the essential skill that separates those who thrive from those who barely survive in this world which might seem uncertain for many of us.

How are you being intentional today? Hit reply and let me know!

Let's think Out of the Box together,

Constanze

P.S.: If you're navigating uncertainty, try my free Working Parent's Success Audit. This 10-minute assessment identifies your strengths, spots blind spots, and offers personalized strategies you can apply today.

Inspiration

https://hbr.org/2020/08/strengthen-your-ability-to-influence-people

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/be-the-sun-not-the-salt/202405/living-intentionally-and-its-impact

https://www.mahaabouelenein.com/book