I am no good at waiting. I want to find the root cause of problems so I can repair it or remove it or replace it.

I have no tolerance for foolishness. Or laziness. Or any form of passive-aggressive douchebagery. I want those around me to share my enthusiasm and committment to excellence. And when they don’t, I want to repair, remove or replace them too.

That’s not to say everything has to be my way or go my way. It doesn’t. I just don’t like confusion. And I think people who claim to thrive in constant flux and uncertainty are either lying or crazy. Or both.

Because confusion doesn’t get stuff done. Confusion doesn’t move things forward. And confusion doesn’t help others grow or develop.

However, I’ve learned that not everyone shares my intolerance for waiting, foolishness or confusion. There are lots of people who are fine to just go with the flow and wait for things to work themselves out. They are fine to wait for the other shoe to fall. They are fine to just sit and watch in suspense as that pesky other shoe teeters back and forth.

I say knock the shoe over and let’s get on with things.

But sometimes you can’t. Sometimes, it’s not your shoe to knock over. Sometimes, the decision is in someone else’s hands and there is absolutely nothing you can do.

You have to wait.

Waiting for the other shoe to fall isn’t easy. It’s annoying. It’s uncomfortable. It makes you feel inert and stifled.

Waiting just sucks.

But whatever the “shoe” is in your organization, there are some things you can do to make wait a little easier

• Share concerns. You need to tell someone in authority when you see a dangling shoe. Be respectful and empathetic in your approach — but say something.
• Don’t compromise. Just because someone else is letting their shoe dangle doesn’t mean you should. Maintain the integrity and ethics of the work within your control.
• Find calm. Seek people, places and projects to take your mind off the dangling shoe. Everyone needs a respit. This is even more true when faced with the stress of a dangling shoe.
• Get ready. Eventually, the shoe will fall. Have a plan for what you’re going to do when it happens so your plans and work are not derailed when it happens. Position yourself to be apart of the solution.

Waiting isn’t easy but sometimes it is unavoidable. Control and contribute what you can so the final result is something worth waiting for.