Saying “it's still up in the air” at work
Why it can fall flat
“it's still up in the air”
“Up in the air” is a vague image that can sound like dodging, and it leaves the other person nothing to plan around. Most of the time, the real message is that nothing is decided yet, so naming what the decision hinges on sounds far more reliable.
Say this instead
- 01
Nothing's been decided on the vendor yet. It depends on the budget review, so I'm holding off on booking anything until that's done.
Boss · Chat
Use it when your boss asks for status and you want to show you're waiting on something specific, not stalling.
- 02
The launch date isn't confirmed yet, so it's safest to plan around a couple of options for now.
Coworker · Chat
A teammate who has to plan gets a practical way to cope while the date stays uncertain.
- 03
We haven't made a final decision on the timeline yet. It depends on the outcome of our internal review, and we'll know more once that's finished.
Client · Email
A client gets a clear reason and a next milestone, and you avoid committing to a date you can't keep.
- 04
Nothing is settled on the new schedule yet, so I don't want to guess. Please keep working to the current one for now.
Someone you manage · Chat
Your team hears that you're being honest about the uncertainty and also what to do in the meantime.
- 05
Your replacement hasn't been confirmed yet. We're waiting on stock details from the warehouse, so I can't give you a date right now.
Customer · Email
Naming the specific hold-up makes the delay feel less like a brush-off to a customer who wants a reason.
- 06
Thanks for checking in. I haven't made a decision on the offer yet, as I'm still weighing a few things.
Recruiter / HR · Email
Polite and honest when a recruiter pushes for an answer and you're not ready to give one.
- 07
Not decided yet whether we're meeting in person on Monday. Still waiting on Gemma's reply, so it should be clearer after lunch.
Coworker · SMS
This short text explains what the decision hangs on, which helps with last-minute logistics.
- 08
The headcount request hasn't been decided yet. Finance is still reviewing it, so I can't say either way at this point.
Boss · Email
Reach for it when the decision sits with another team and you can't give your boss an answer yet.
Examples
Hi Euan, Thanks for checking on the training dates. We haven't made a final decision yet, as it depends on whether the trainer is available in the second week of March. Once that's confirmed, we'll know which dates work. Best regards, Radhika
Hi Casey, the team offsite location isn't decided yet. We're still comparing two venues, so please don't book travel just yet.
What to avoid
- Vague filler like “we'll see” or “it's complicated” says little unless you also name what the decision depends on.
- Hinting that a decision is close, or will go a certain way, is a mistake if you don't actually know.
- Leaving the other person with nothing to act on is unhelpful, so tell them what to do or assume in the meantime.
- Naming a specific person or team as the cause of the delay can shift blame and cause friction.
- Piling on apologies is unnecessary, since a clear, calm update is enough.