Big Decisions: The Best Way to Share Uncertainty with Business Leaders

JD Solomon
Nov 16
2 min read

Front-load your message by sharing your key findings before the presentation and again at the start of the presentation. Embrace uncertainty; do not bury it. — Front-load your message by sharing your key findings *before* the presentation and *again at the start* of the presentation. Embrace uncertainty; do not bury it.

When it comes to communicating uncertainty, especially to senior decision-makers, finesse matters. The greatest tip? Lead with your conclusions and surface your uncertainties early.

This isn’t about burying caveats in footnotes or waiting until slide 27 to mention the risks. It’s about front-loading your message by sharing your key findings before the presentation and again at the start of the presentation.

Decision leaders don't want a mystery novel. They want a clear picture of the upsides, downsides, and trade-offs. They're not chasing the "right" decision—they're allocating resources in the face of uncertainty.

Uncertainty is Not the Enemy

In my work with infrastructure, environmental, and technical teams, I’ve seen it time and time again: analysts hesitate to acknowledge uncertainty. They fear it undermines credibility. But the truth is uncertainty is not the enemy. Poor communication of uncertainty is.

Share your key findings before the presentation and again at the start of the presentation

When you surface caveats and explain their implications for the decision at hand, you build trust. You show you understand the complexity and are prepared to navigate it. That’s what senior leaders value. They don’t expect perfection; they expect clarity, context, and confidence.

So how do you do it with FINESSE?

Start with your bottom line. Don’t make business leaders dig for the conclusions or the uncertainties.
Frame uncertainty as part of the decision landscape. Use ranges, scenarios, and probabilities.
Connect the dots. Show how uncertainty affects outcomes, not just inputs.

Embrace Uncertainty. Share Uncertainty.

Remember, effective communication isn’t about simplifying the message; it’s about simplifying the decision. And that starts with sharing uncertainty the right way.

The elements of the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram® are Frame, Illustrate, Noise reduction, Empathy, Structure, Synergy, and Ethics.

JD Solomon writes and speaks on decision-making, reliability, and communication for leaders and technical professionals. His work connects technical disciplines with human understanding to help people make better decisions and build stronger systems. Learn more at www.jdsolomonsolutions.com and www.communicatingwithfinesse.com.