As many of you know, we’ve taught hundreds of workshops on Leading through Change. Yet recently we’ve noticed an increase in tension among you with comments like: “uncertainty is depressing,” “everyone is very anxious,” and “how am I supposed to motivate others when I don’t even know how long the company will be around?”
We get it. The fragile economy and the downturn in the biotech sector that some are calling the “funding Sahara” means that the uncertainty—and for some, insecurity—is very real.
It’s very hard to live with ambiguity. It’s even harder to lead with ambiguity.
What can you do?
- Acknowledge where you are. Name the feelings that the stress of uncertainty brings up in you. This is difficult to do because we all want to see the future and have a plan. But if you can lean into the discomfort by talking about it, you’ll find it has less of a hold on you than if you keep it to yourself. Plus, you may learn something about yourself that you didn’t yet know!
- Create community. Share your thoughts and feelings with your peers. Resist the temptation to bear the burden alone. You’ll be amazed at the comfort you feel in their support and what you can learn from each of your different perspectives.
- Take a broad perspective. When you look at the big picture, you can begin to see from a new point of view. We can all become so mired in the day-to-day that we lose sight of the innovation, solutions, and real change that we’re driving. When you find that the uncertainty is too much, take a step back and remind yourself of your bigger purpose.
We hope this helps!
As always, reach out if we can be helpful to you as you continue on the path of igniting exceptional performance at your company.
The HAVEN team
