“Will I have a job in 6 months?” was the question that kept me up many nights. For some time, I went through the gut wrenching stress and anxiety of trying to deal with uncertainty at work especially where things would come out of left field almost constantly.
Unable to deal with uncertainty and chaos at work, I froze and became paralyzed by over thinking about what I thought was going to happen next. I just couldn’t deal with uncertainty and it caused me to have stress and anxiety. Then for a while, I went through an up and down journey which led me to my breakthrough. Uncertainty didn’t go away – I just learned to deal with it.
Here are 5 ways to deal with uncertainty at work that helped me and may be helpful to you:
1. Accept the craziness
Understand that your place of work will have lots of changes. Don’t be surprised with chaos at work. It will happen. No one is immune from the up and down cycles especially during an unpredictable economy. People will change, the nature of work will be different and the way your place of work is organized will be different. Things you didn’t expect, will likely happen because no one can predict the future.
By FULLY ACCEPTING the chaos at work, we can start realizing that we cannot control the chaos BUT we can only control ourselves and the way we deal with the uncertainty and chaos. Accepting this hard truth FULLY will make you feel better in how you deal with uncertainty.
2. Go deep
It’s hard to focus on work when everyone around you is waiting for the next shoe to drop. But instead of waiting for that ‘shoe’, why not do something? If you’re thinking about making a career move, then go ahead and start sending out those resumes, make those calls or put out those feelers. Don’t waste your time going around the gossip mill. Stop trying to predict what’s going to happen next. You can’t. Get busy with doing something meaningful – something useful. If you’re not interested in leaving your job and are trying to deal with uncertainty within the same place, then find a project and just do it. Throw yourself into your specific role and do it really, really well. Move forward and start working on something that you CAN control.
3. Try Something New
Dealing with uncertainty at work can make you feel lost sometimes. We’ve all seen people who are ‘checked out’ walking around like zombies with no life inside of them because of so much change and chaos at work. I’ve been there and its tough. By trying something completely new, you’ll be sending positive signals to yourself and to those around you that you’re the person to go to in times of chaos. You’ll not only demonstrate an exterior that says, “I’m throwing stuff on the wall” but one that allows you feel like you’re progressing…not sitting there and sulking. Getting out of limbo land and trying something new breathes new life to into a weary soul. Taking a step forward is rich nourishment that brings with it a potent tonic: momentum.
4. Don’t Believe the Hype. Believe Yourself.
Don’t over think what others say is going to happen. They can’t predict the future. Don’t listen to the hype, the gossip, all the so called facts or anyone else….believe what YOU know to be true. Don’t over analyze what you think might happen next. Don’t over think the path you will take next. You were born with everything that you need to deal with uncertainty at work and make it through the chaos and move forward in life. It’s called your gut. Your intuition. Use it. Trust it. Trusting yourself when you’re dealing with uncertainty can make you feel like you are in control again. Because you really are. You are in control of yourself!
5. Know That Things Do Work Out
Regardless of what happens during times of uncertainty at work, know that somehow, somewhere down the road, things do work out. I’ve had colleagues or friends who have lost jobs and somehow – by hook or crook, it has always worked out. Some have found better jobs – higher paying careers. Others have moved on to whole new lifestyles where they got out of the rat race altogether and are happier that they were forced to take a hard look at their life. Some became entrepreneurs and are thrilled. It didn’t happen over night but it did happen – things did work out. Realizing that life has an interesting path that you have to uncover is a great way to deal with the uncertainty at work in a positive way.
Do I have a sure fire answer to the question I started with? The answer is no I don’t. And that’s because life has never had any guarantees. But I’ve felt better about it all and the way I think about it has changed dramatically. And so by minding these simple 5 ways to deal with uncertainty at work, I believe you can start reducing your anxiety and stress and get back to living a life and career full of possibilities.
June 2012 | 5 Ways to Deal with Uncertainty at Work | Embrace the Chaos! | Bob Miglani
