Atwater: Handling Vulnerability

Professor Peter Atwater, author of The Confidence Map: Charting a Path From Chaos to Clarity, offers tips on how to navigate vulnerability — for yourself and for others. Also available in printable version (pdf).

A four-column table outlining ways to improve awareness, personal well-being, community well-being and communication.
Awareness	Personal Well-Being	Community Well-Being	Communication
Recognize natural cycles.	Create slack where possible — undercommit.	Pay attention to your certainty and control effect on others.	Keep communication authentic, immediate, frequent, simple, tactical and concrete.
Appreciate your own and others' stacked vulnerabilities.	Create rules, routines, processes and procedures (and stick to them).	Don't take control from those feeling powerless.	Over-include information and with whom you share it.
Pay attention to groups and individuals feeling hyper-vulnerable.	Avoid social media.	Don't add uncertainty to those feeling uncertain.	Highlight and destigmatize available resources that help reduce feelings of vulnerability.
	Spend time in your Comfort Zone.	Eliminate sources of needless vulnerability.	Share when you are in the Stress Center.
	Avoid zero-sum activities.	Think short-term when setting goals, measuring progress and rewarding achievement.
	Celebrate shared accomplishments.	Break down complex tasks.
		Listen outside your echo chamber.

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