Today, we live in a constantly evolving world, and this is especially reflected in the business world. For this reason, it is not surprising that uncertainty at work has gone from being an occasional concern to becoming a constant in the organisational world, affecting workers in various sectors or at various levels.
The reality is that uncertainty at work can be triggered by multiple factors, such as changes in market demand, technological advances, or unforeseen global events that can trigger radical changes in work dynamics.
Along with this, multiple questions such as: What am I going to do if I become unemployed, will changes in the company affect my job, how will I know what the right decision is, and how will I know what the right decision is, will be present, making us question our skills. It is, therefore, essential to know how to manage uncertainty, especially in the business environment, in order to be able to cope with times of change, crisis, or instability and overcome it successfully.
But first, what is uncertainty at work?
Uncertainty is the lack of certainty or knowledge about a given subject that causes doubt or indecision. Basically, it is the inability to predict the future, which can generate anxiety, tension, or fear, as it is usually associated with change, fragility, or danger.
In an organisational context, uncertainty at work is uncertainty at work as it relates to our current situation at work and all uncertain scenarios that may cause our situation or status at work to change.
Uncertainty is not a bad thing in itself. Indeed, part of the human experience lies in not being able to predict the future with certainty. Therefore, we must learn to tolerate certain levels of uncertainty, which can even serve as a motivation to take action.
However, uncertainty at work can be a significant source of stress for employees and can affect their overall well-being and job performance. It is crucial that companies implement strategies to manage this uncertainty effectively. One of the keys to achieving this is to foster empowerment at work, allowing employees to have more control over their tasks and decisions. This not only improves their psychological well-being, but also increases their resilience and ability to adapt to unexpected changes in the work environment.
Why is it important to know how to manage uncertainty at work?
We have all experienced uncertainty at one time or another. The fear of the unknown, the unpredictability, and the desire to want to control our context so that everything works out in our favour. However, all of us who have tried to control more variables than possible, have had to realise that more than controlling it, we have to learn to tolerate and live with certain levels of uncertainty in our daily lives.
The problem is that uncertainty at work brings with it the possibility of unpredictable changes in areas of great impact on life, such as work. This, in turn, represents a risk to the economic situation, stability, professional development, etc. For this reason, it is understandable that especially uncertainty at work involves unpleasant emotions, which, if not properly managed, can be counterproductive.
In fact, uncertainty at work can cover different issues, from the search for a new job to the fear of dismissal, so there are multiple reasons that can cause us to experience this fear or anxiety. It is also worth mentioning that although these scenarios could be faced by anyone throughout their professional career, not all of us have the same levels of tolerance to uncertainty, as each personal context is different.
What often happens is that an initial concern in the face of an uncertain scenario causes us to recognize change or instability as a possibility but without the certainty of whether the outcome of that change will be positive or not. This lack of knowledge about what the outcome of the change will be motivates the desire to control the outcome and not be caught off guard. But since this is not possible, the feeling of fear increases due to the lack of certainty, which adds to the lack of control over possible threats.
For this reason, it is important to acquire tools that allow us to manage uncertainty at work, prevent fear from hindering our decision-making or taking action, and thus take care of our mental health at work.
How to manage uncertainty at work?
Learning to manage uncertainty at work, like any skill, requires practice and self-knowledge, as it is important to know that what causes uncertainty can vary from one person to another. Here are some strategies you can implement to help you manage uncertainty at work.
1. Practice self-assessment
The first step in managing uncertainty at work is to look inward, to identify what is triggering the fear of uncertainty. In this way, conducting an honest self-assessment of our skills, strengths and areas for improvement will allow us to cultivate the resilience to learn to adapt to new situations and difficult experiences.
2. Work on your continuous development
In line with the previous point, self-assessment and self-knowledge will allow you to identify which factors depend on you, so that you can start working on them as soon as possible. To do this, invest in your professional development, update your skills, participate in training courses and keep abreast of trends in your industry. The more prepared you are, the more able you will be to adapt to sudden changes and face uncertainty with confidence.
It is also necessary to invest in your personal development: taking care of yourself at all levels, physically and mentally, is key to managing difficult times. It is necessary to accept uncertainty itself, making peace with the fact that there will always be elements beyond our control, and that’s OK. Tools such as psychology and mindfulness exercises, among others, can be useful and facilitate the process of acceptance and seeing situations from new perspectives.
3. Build a support network
Building and maintaining a solid support network can facilitate the process of coping with difficult situations. Sharing our concerns with trusted friends, family or colleagues can help strengthen relationships, and different perspectives can often provide valuable advice. Most importantly, however, having a strong support network can provide much-needed psychological support during difficult times or uncertainty at work.
4. Work on your flexibility and adaptability
Flexibility is a crucial skill in an uncertain world of work. Understanding that there will always be variables beyond our control will allow us to be more open to new opportunities, roles, and responsibilities and not to cling to a single possible scenario. Likewise, the ability to be flexible will make us more able to adapt to different circumstances and take advantage of opportunities that arise in the midst of uncertainty.
5. Plan your financial situation
In the context of uncertainty at work, money is usually the most worrying issue. In these cases, prevention is key. Keep a proactive approach to your financial situation. Actions such as building an emergency fund, diversifying your sources of income, constantly reviewing and adjusting your budget as needed, etc., will give you peace of mind and allow you to make more informed decisions in times of difficulty or uncertainty.
6. Learn stress management tools
Uncertainty at work can create stress. And while it is a normal and expected emotion, you can apply techniques, such as meditation, regular exercise and time planning, to help you navigate these emotions in the best possible way. Counseling is often the best way to learn these tools and is a space where you can feel supported, understood, and able to help you find solutions.
Likewise, maintaining a work-life balance is essential: make time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation, and remember that self-care is key to fostering our mental well-being at work, helping to keep a clear and focused mind, even in uncertain situations.
7. Learn to redefine your goals and organise your priorities
In contexts of uncertainty at work, it is sometimes necessary to reevaluate our goals and priorities. Reflective work on our goals, both professional and personal, can help us assess whether or not they are in line with the current reality and adjust them as necessary. Being open to redefining goals will help us face change with a positive perspective, interpreting it as a new opportunity to set goals that are adapted to the new context.
8. Communicate with your team
The people you work with are likely to be the ones who can best understand how you feel about the uncertainty at work, and the factors related to your company. For this reason, open communication with your team, managers and colleagues will allow you to clarify expectations, share relevant information and learn about the direction of the company so you can make informed decisions. At the same time, transparency builds trust and contributes to a more collaborative work environment.
9. Stay on top of things
Constant change in the work context does not necessarily have to mean a bad thing. In many cases, change creates new opportunities to take advantage of. Keeping up to date with current events, the job market, industry trends, and potential career opportunities can help you explore and discover opportunities that can propel your career in unexpected but beneficial directions.
10. Learn from mistakes
Every experience, even challenging ones, can be a learning opportunity. Reflecting on your work experiences and identifying what you have learned and how you can apply it in the future can be an excellent way to deal with uncertainty at work. Likewise, recognising failure as part of the process will make it easier to adapt to new work contexts or challenges, as it will reduce the fear of making a mistake or the wrong decision.
Supporting employees: at the heart of HR strategy
In companies, HR departments play a key role in managing uncertainty at work. For this reason, it is important for leaders and managers to rely on organisational psychologists, in order to know all the tools capable of supporting their teams in managing change, thus reducing psychosocial risks at work (To help you in this process, our team of expert psychologists at ifeel has designed a Psychosocial Risk Factors template to prevent mental health problems at work. Download it now and improve your working environment!)
Uncertainty at work encompasses multiple factors, both external to the company (market volatility, mergers and acquisitions) and internal (changes in strategic direction, etc.), that can trigger insecurity in the employee. Therefore, part of the skills to be a good manager include being able to anticipate these changes and their impact on employees, which is the first step to managing them effectively. Here are some strategies you can use to support your team in times of uncertainty at work.
1. Anticipate and monitor market trends
Developing preventive strategies will require constant monitoring of market trends and economic factors that could affect your industry. To do so, you can rely on data analysis tools to anticipate possible changes in market demand and economic conditions.
2. Foster a culture of psychological safety and maintain open communication
If your employees feel comfortable voicing their concerns, the company will have more information and the ability to attack problems in a timely manner. Expanding information reduces uncertainty, so establish transparent communication channels between senior management and employees and provide updates on the state of the company and its future prospects so that team members can make informed decisions. It also encourages employees to voice their concerns and suggestions.
At ifeel, we have designed this resource with practical tips that you can implement to promote psychological safety at work.
3. Cultivate a culture of adaptability
Hand in hand with the previous point, always seek to promote a mindset of adaptability and continuous learning within the team through constant training and the development of relevant skills to adapt to change. Consequently, it recognises and rewards (reinforces) resilience and creativity in situations of uncertainty at work.
4. Implementing management strategies in HR departments
HR departments have in their hands the ability to implement strategies that enable the workforce to adapt more easily to change. These include developing succession plans to ensure continuity in key roles; flexible hiring models, such as telecommuting or temporary hiring, to adapt to fluctuations in demand; or investing in career development programmes, mental well-being solutions and talent retention strategies to help ensure the company is prepared for any unexpected changes.
5. Use technological tools
Technological advances can be great allies when it comes to streamlining processes. For example, implementing talent management platforms that can track employee skills and performance, as well as predict or anticipate changes in the workforce, can help in making informed decisions.
6. Maintain a financial reserve:
Build and maintain a financial reserve to deal with times of economic uncertainty within the organisation. To do this, diversify revenue sources to reduce dependence on a single market or customer and analyse different financial scenarios to assess the impact of possible changes in the economic environment.
7. Flexibility in organisational structure
Organisational structures should be rigid enough to maintain order, but flexible enough to adapt quickly to change. Thus, always seek to encourage internal mobility and cross-training so that employees can take on different roles as needed.
8. Interdepartmental collaboration
To move the company forward in times of uncertainty at work, all teams must be aligned to pursue the same goal. Therefore, promoting close collaboration between departments can motivate employees, and encourage team work to share information and find collaborative solutions. To do this, establish cross-functional teams that can effectively address emerging challenges.
9. Evaluate and learn from experience
Conduct periodic evaluations to analyse the effectiveness of implemented strategies, and learn from past situations of uncertainty at work, so as to adjust strategies accordingly. Use this performance review template and adapt it to your employees to get their perspective on the policies implemented. In addition, you can establish a continuous feedback loop to improve the organisation’s ability to manage uncertainty at work.
10. Maintain a positive approach
Business resilience starts with a good organisational culture. Therefore, always seek to foster a positive and proactive mindset among employees, celebrating successes and learning, even in times of uncertainty, to build confidence and motivation.
Managing uncertainty at work is not only about reacting to unforeseen events, but also about proactively preparing for inevitable changes in the business environment. This is achieved by combining anticipation, effective communication, a transformational and empathetic leadership style, as well as providing opportunities for continuous development, to face uncertainty with greater confidence.
Trust the experts
At ifeel, we know that fostering an environment where employees feel safe to express their thoughts and be themselves not only improves workers‘ mental well-being but also helps in managing emotions in times of work uncertainty, to get through VUCA environments.
To assist in this process, our team of psychologists specialising in mental well-being has developed a mental well-being program for companies aimed at helping companies enhance employee engagement and boost productivity.
This collaboration allows HR managers to receive personalised, data-based advice on the most effective measures for detecting employee mental health issues and assessing the workplace climate. It’s the best way to understand their needs.
Moreover, ifeel’s corporate mental well-being solution offers employees a structured mental health care service tailored to their needs at any given time.
We hope you found this article on managing uncertainty at work interesting. If you want more information about our mental well-being solution for companies, simply request it, and we will contact your team soon.
