So much seems uncertain in the world today—high inflation, a mixed to poor economic outlook, companies laying off employees, the war in Ukraine—the list goes on and on.

Our brains are wired for certainty, and a lack of certainty causes us stress. This stress is at its highest level when the uncertainty is the highest. In fact, most of us would prefer—and feel less stress about—a certain bad outcome, vs. an uncertain bad outcome. Isn’t that startling?

The World Uncertainty Index is at one of the highest levels since 1990. And yet, even amid this uncertainty, there are a few productive actions leaders can take:

• Researchers at INSEAD wrote a book called The Upside of Uncertainty, which they describe as a “first aid tool kit for facing the unknown.” Their strategies include reframing the uncertainty, building self-awareness, and identifying and taking small steps that can lead to important innovation.
• Speaking of innovation, SoulCycle cofounder Ruth Zukerman found that navigating uncertainty and turbulent times caused her to be more creative and helped her launch her now thriving business.
• Asking open-ended questions helps leaders explore, learn, and grow, all of which typically increases their ability to manage uncertainty. Many leaders are reluctant to ask questions because they think it will make them look weak or unknowing, and yet research led by Karen Huang and her colleagues shows that “people who ask more questions, particularly follow-up questions, are better liked by their conversation partners.”
• Emma Seppälä, Christina Bradley, and Michael R. Goldstein’s research shows that breathing exercises can dramatically reduce stress levels by slowing heart rates and stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, which causes us to calm down and think more rationally.
• And finally, when the future is ambiguous, how leaders communicate is more important than ever. This recent McKinsey article explores five steps leaders can take to support their employees and communicate most effectively in times of uncertainty.

Let us know if you’d like to talk about how we can help.

The Boda team