Leading through Change and Uncertainty

Many of the big questions we want to ask right now have no certain answers. When will the pandemic end? What will life be like when it finally does end? Will things go back to pre-pandemic “normal”?

It’s been over a year since it all began, and still a cloud of uncertainty hangs over us. Organizations continue to face unprecedented changes due to COVID-19, and leading people through all these challenges can be overwhelming.

In this time of great uncertainty and change, here are some important things every leader should know:

Understand that adjusting to change is an emotional process.

Many of us resist change because of our belief that we will lose something of value or fear that we will lose our routines and not adapt well. In a survey on the impact of organizational change on employees, those who experienced recent change were more than twice as likely to report chronic work stress compared to people who weren’t going through or anticipating change (55% vs. 22%).

As a leader, you should understand that your employees will experience a range of emotions as they adjust to change and face uncertainty. Learning to recognize and identify how their emotional and psychological experiences affect them will help you determine the best way to…