By Ashley
I’ve been following Hope’s posts about her potential move and the significant transformations she’s gone through in recent years, changes that have affected almost every part of her life, from her job to her personal relationships.
Although my private life hasn’t had many seismic shifts, I’ve definitely been dealing with some upheaval, especially in my work life.
Navigating uncertainty at work
I’ve touched on some of these changes in previous posts. Without going into too much detail, my work environment has been a whirlwind. I have experienced an unexpected change in leadership, with my current leader serving in an interim role and no clear direction on who will lead us next. Furthermore, my university is going through a period of great instability, with leadership changes at almost every level, shifts in funding structures, hiring freezes, and raises being paused, among other things.
As someone who thrives on stability and predictability, I found this environment particularly challenging. There is a lot of uncertainty. For example, we don’t know what the new funding model will look like, who my next manager will be, or how these changes will impact my role within the department.
Absorbing in control
In response, I notice that I try to exert control as much as I can. It’s as if I’m trying to impose stability in my little corner of the workplace. I’ve been pushing for small changes within my department, as if making these changes will help me feel more grounded, as if my work is still appreciated even though everything else is still up in the air.
It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. One day, I’m excited about taking on a bigger leadership role, and I look forward to taking on more responsibility. The next day, I start wondering if I really want to add more to my list and wonder if I would be happier focusing on my current work without the stress of additional administrative duties. I go back and forth between wanting to climb the ladder and wanting to downsize, and I feel pulled in different directions depending on the day.
It’s exhausting, and I can’t help but wonder if, in my efforts to manage uncertainty, I’m grasping at straws.
Embracing stillness in times of change
Reading through the comments on Hope’s journey, I noticed that many people suggested she take a step back and resist making big decisions in the moment, encouraging a period of stillness rather than immediate action. While I’m not suggesting that this is necessarily the right way for Hope — I think that’s something for her to decide — I can’t help but think that this might be good advice for me in my own situation. I’ve been focusing a lot on trying to control changes at work, but maybe I need to pause, take a breath, and give myself some time to think.
Within the next year, my work environment will likely look very different. We will have new leadership at the top, a new department head, and hopefully a more stable and defined business model.
As a long-term strategist, I’m used to thinking several steps ahead. I create and rely on strategic planning to guide decision making. But for now, it may be time to accept that not everything needs to be planned or controlled. Maybe it’s okay to wait and see. Peace, for now, might mean embracing stillness and not making any major changes at work for the time being. There will be plenty of time for change in the future.
Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt overwhelmed by uncertainty? How did you deal with the need for change without making rash decisions? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Hi, I’m Ashley! Arizona on paper, Texas in heart. Lover of running, blogging and all things cheesy. Newly 40 years old, married and mother of two children, working in the academic field. Trying to finally (finally!) pay off that ridiculous 6-figure student loan debt!
