How to Lead Through Uncertainty (Without Burning Out Your Team)
Leading Through Uncertainty with the Right Tools
Uncertainty isn’t going away.
And in today’s workplace, uncertainty doesn’t just show up in the market — it shows up in your meetings, in your messaging, in your team’s energy.
Here's what most leaders miss:
It’s not just the change that’s hard — it’s the emotional state it triggers.
When people feel anxious, frustrated, or overwhelmed, their executive cognitive functioning starts to dim — like a light switch turning down.
That means the very brain functions we need to lead through change — problem-solving, creativity, innovation — become harder to access.
This is why I teach leaders to pause.
Just pause.
Create space.
(Hint: It’s also my company’s tagline — “Create the Space.”)
There’s a technique I use called Freeze Frame®, developed by HeartMath®. It helps people:
Acknowledge their current emotional state
Name how they want to feel
Breathe into that state, then
Ask: “What would help me move there?”
This technique isn’t fluff. It’s science.
And it’s one of the most powerful tools a leader can use when guiding teams through uncertain times — especially when integrating something new like AI.
If your team is feeling drained, disengaged, or afraid of change, this is your moment to step in and lead differently.
Here’s a simple framework I teach that builds on this idea:
Pause > Prioritize > Pilot
Pause: Acknowledge emotions + energy levels. Create space.
Prioritize: Reconnect to values + goals. What matters most?
Pilot: Test small. Learn fast. Lead with curiosity, not control.
According to the American Psychological Association, stress reduces working memory, impairs decision-making, and causes people to focus on short-term threats over long-term strategy.
That’s why this work matters.
If we want to lead through change, we need tools that help us think clearly — and show up fully.
Next week: “Using AI to Increase Productivity Without Killing Culture”
P.S. I offer workshops like Emotions at Work and Ordinary to Extraordinary: Transforming Risk with Emotional Intelligence to help teams use tools like this in real time. Let me know if you want to explore one for your team.