Tolerating the Uncertainties of the Workplace: A Skill Every Employee Needs in 2025
- sharisenance
- May 13
- 2 min read
Five years ago, when the world was turned upside down by COVID-19, I created Tolerating Workplace Uncertainties as a response to the chaos and fear that took over our professional lives. Back then, it was about surviving massive shifts to remote work, navigating health concerns, and wondering if our jobs would still exist by the end of the week. Fast forward to today—and while the pandemic may feel like a distant memory, the uncertainty? Oh, it’s still very much here.
In fact, over the past few months, this has become one of our most requested workshops. Why? Because the pace of change hasn’t slowed down. Companies are restructuring. Layoffs feel like a regular headline. New leadership brings new expectations. And for many employees, it’s like living in a constant state of “What’s next?”
What’s Really Happening Beneath the Surface?
In a recent session I facilitated, the conversation got real and fast. Participants opened up about how difficult it is to compartmentalize the emotional weight of loss. And we’re not just talking about personal loss—this is about the loss of colleagues through layoffs, the loss of professional identity when roles change or disappear, and the loss of stability when leadership and organizational structures keep shifting.
One participant said it perfectly:
“It wasn’t just the change itself—it was how the change was handled.”
That hit hard. Because here’s the thing—uncertainty is inevitable. But how we navigate and communicate through it makes all the difference.
What Employees Are Telling Us They Need
When I asked participants what would have made these tough transitions easier, two clear themes rose to the top:
Be Mindful of the Delivery of Hard News.
It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it. People remember the tone, the timing, and the level of empathy (or lack thereof) when receiving difficult news.
Consistency in Leadership.
Even when leaders don’t have all the answers, showing up consistently and communicating openly can provide a sense of security amidst the unknown. Employees aren’t asking for perfection—they’re asking for presence.
So, How Do You Actually Tolerate Uncertainty?
It’s not about shutting down emotionally or pretending everything’s fine. It’s about building the capacity to hold steady in the middle of all the chaos swirling around you.
In this workshop, we explore practical strategies like:
Recognizing what’s within your control and what’s not (and giving yourself permission to let go of the latter).
Creating micro-moments of stability in your day—small routines that ground you when everything else feels up in the air.
Practicing emotional regulation, so you can respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively when stress hits.
Engaging in processing and reflection in community, leaving with a stronger sense of connection—knowing you have people to lean on as you navigate change.
Learning and applying our T.U.N.E.D.™ Framework—a grounding practice to help you tolerate change and transitions with greater resilience and clarity.
The workplace may always be a little unpredictable. But with the right tools and support, your teams don’t have to feel powerless in the face of it.
Ready to bring this workshop to your team? Let’s connect and make it happen.
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