Empowering Veterinarians to Overcome Uncertainty with Empowering Veterinarians to Overcome Uncertainty with ec

Empowering Veterinarians to Overcome Uncertainty with Confidence

What to Do When You Don’t Know: Turning Uncertainty Into Strength

Uncertainty gets a bad rap. We often associate it with anxiety, hesitation, or imposter syndrome. But what if uncertainty isn’t a weakness to hide, but a strength to embrace?

Let’s flip the script.

Uncertainty Means You’re Paying Attention

When you feel uncertain, it means you’re tuned in. You’re aware of what you don’t know—and that’s powerful. It shows curiosity and self-awareness.

In fact, according to the Dunning-Kruger effect, people who know the least often overestimate their knowledge, while those who are learning and growing tend to doubt themselves more.

So if you feel uncertain, maybe you’re exactly where you need to be: growing, learning, evolving.

Reframing Your Mindset Around Not Knowing

Let’s talk about how we think about uncertainty—especially in a field like veterinary medicine, where you’re expected to be the expert.

Consider this:

• In 1950, medical knowledge doubled every 50 years.

• In 1980, it was every 7 years.

• By 2010, every 3.5 years.

• In 2020? Every 73 days.

You can’t know it all. You won’t know it all. Expect to come across things you don’t know. That’s not failure—it’s reality.

And that feeling of being an imposter? It’s not a red flag. It’s fuel. Imposter syndrome (discussed more in our “Burnout Part 1” episode of The VetEQ Podcast) is common among high achievers. It’s a motivator that keeps you striving to learn and improve.

Try shifting from proving yourself to improving yourself. Instead of feeling shame when you don’t know something, make a mental note and look it up later. You’ll be better prepared next time.

Why Clients Trust You More When You Show Uncertainty

Here’s something counterintuitive: showing uncertainty can make you more credible.

Research shows:

• Experts are seen as more persuasive when they express moderate uncertainty.

• Clients trust you more when you’re transparent. They’re more likely to believe they’re getting a straight answer—not a sales pitch.

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Because the truth is, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Handling External Uncertainty

External uncertainty is when the science doesn’t give us a clear answer. Take diarrhoea in a dog, for example. There are multiple possible causes, and often we can’t pinpoint the exact one without further testing.

So what do we do?

We hedge. Use phrases like:

• “It may be…”

• “It’s possible that…”

• “One of the likely causes is…”

Speaking in absolutes increases pressure—and makes you seem less credible if you're wrong. But hedging? That makes you relatable and transparent.

Better yet, take the client through your process:

“There are lots of causes of diarrhoea. Because of your dog’s age and history, we can probably rule out X and Y. That leaves us with four main possibilities. Without tests, we can’t know for sure which it is, but here’s what we can do…”

This makes the client part of the decision-making.

They understand your reasoning and your limitations. Even if the treatment doesn’t work, they don’t feel blindsided—they know the next step. You’ve already discussed it.

That means fewer complaints, greater compliance, and more trust.

The best part? You’re still demonstrating expertise. Your uncertainty is framed as a scientific limitation, not a personal one.

What If You Just Don’t Know?

Sometimes, it’s not about the case—it’s about you being asked something completely unexpected:

• “Are tulips toxic to dogs?”

• “Could this be GOLPP? My breeder mentioned it.”

Cue panic.

Here’s the thing: these moments will happen. Clients ask things that weren’t in the textbooks. That doesn’t mean you’re not a good vet. It just means you’re human.

So what can you do?

1. Prepare When You Can

If you can prep in advance—great. Have your facts straight before difficult conversations. But that’s not always possible.

2. Use Discreet Tools

I created a tool called The Vet Cloud—a searchable online reference you can use discreetly during consults. It's designed for real-time situations, when you need information now, not after the client walks out. Pages are organized by presentation (e.g., PUPD, nasal discharge) or specific conditions (e.g., Cushing’s, plasma cell pododermatitis). Keep it open in a tab and search as needed.

3. Be Honest

When you don’t know something, you don’t need to bluff.

Try:

“That’s a great question—I’d like to double-check to make sure I give you the most accurate information.”

This doesn’t make you look unprepared—it makes you look thorough.

Final Thoughts

Uncertainty isn’t the enemy—it’s a tool. A signpost. A gateway to better communication, better learning, and better relationships with your clients.

So next time you feel uncertain, pause.

Ask:

• Is this a chance to involve the client in my thinking?

• Is this a moment to demonstrate transparency and care?

• Is this an opportunity to learn?

Uncertainty doesn’t mean you’re falling short—it might mean you’re doing things exactly right.

And if all else fails, remember: confident ignorance is far more dangerous than thoughtful uncertainty.

Let’s make peace with not knowing.

Let’s work with it.

Let’s get curious.

Full episode available at The VetEQ Podcast