Necessary vs. Unnecessary Ambiguity

(Not all uncertainty is bad — but some of it is very expensive)

People talk about “ambiguity” as if it’s a single thing —
an obstacle, a flaw, something to be eliminated.

But ambiguity comes in two flavors,
and treating them the same is where a lot of work goes sideways.

Let’s fix that with one simple tool.

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⭐ THE NECESSARY vs. UNNECESSARY AMBIGUITY FILTER

Necessary Ambiguity = uncertainty that belongs to the work.
It cannot be removed, only explored.

Unnecessary Ambiguity = uncertainty created by missing context.
It should be removed, because it causes drift and rework.

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⭐ How to Use It

Ask two questions:

1️⃣ Is this ambiguity inherent?
(We’re exploring, innovating, deciding — the uncertainty is real.)

2️⃣ Or is this ambiguity self-inflicted?
(Missing assumptions, unclear intent, inconsistent definitions.)

If it’s necessary → embrace it.
If it’s unnecessary → eliminate it.

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⭐ Examples

Necessary:
“We aren’t sure which customer segment will respond best — we need to test.”
“That feature hasn’t been validated yet — uncertainty is part of the work.”

Unnecessary:
“What problem are we solving again?”
“Do we all mean the same thing when we say ‘done’?”
“I’m not sure who decides this.”

One is strategy.
The other is confusion.

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⭐ Why It Works

Teams often waste massive energy trying to eliminate uncertainty that can’t be eliminated,
while tolerating ambiguity that shouldn’t exist.

This filter:

• clarifies what must be resolved now

• reveals what can be left open

• prevents over-planning

• and reduces misalignment born from missing context

In short:

Embrace the ambiguity that moves you forward.
Eliminate the ambiguity that drags you backward.

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⭐ Try It Today

Identify one thing that feels unclear.
Ask whether it’s necessary or unnecessary ambiguity.

Your next action will become obvious.

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