Facing Uncertainty?

Change is one of the most common challenges I hear about in both personal and professional circles. And where there’s change, there’s often uncertainty, fear, anxiety and stress.

Whether change catches us off guard, pushes us out of our comfort zone or is something we initiate, it is a constant in life. Navigating it well means understanding its practical side (logistics and outcomes) and its emotional side (how we process and adapt). When we recognize both, we can respond in ways that support our growth and well-being.

While we can’t always control change, we can control how we respond. In this article, I’ll explore four common responses — flowing, resisting, adapting and leading — and when each might serve us best. I’ll also highlight resources from across NC State to help you thrive through uncertainty.

Flow – Let Go and Move Forward

Sometimes the best response to change is to simply go with the flow — to accept it and move forward. This approach often works well when the change aligns with your goals, presents new opportunities or is simply unavoidable. Flowing means acknowledging what’s happening, releasing unnecessary worry and staying open to what the change might bring.

While it offers less control over the outcome, flowing can reduce stress and conserve energy, allowing you to focus on what you can influence rather than what you can’t.

Resist – Stand Up for What Matters

Resistance is a natural — and sometimes necessary — response when change threatens your values, goals or well-being. It can be a powerful way to protect what matters, but it requires significant energy and persistence, as it involves pushing back against strong momentum.

Resistance is a high-stress strategy and often offers limited control over the outcome, especially when the forces driving change are overwhelming. Consider the cases of Blockbuster and Nokia: Both resisted market shifts. Blockbuster clung to an outdated model and was overtaken by Netflix. Nokia hesitated to embrace smartphones and lost significant market share, from which it has yet to fully recover.

When resisting change, it’s important to make sure you resist the content of the specific change, not simply the discomfort or change itself. Many changes are natural. Recognize when to reassess and choose a different approach, especially if the change is moving forward despite your efforts.

Adapt – Grow With Intention (My Personal Favorite)

Adapting means intentionally adjusting your mindset, strategies or actions to meet new challenges. Adapting takes effort and flexibility, but it puts you in control of your growth. This approach often involves learning new skills, shifting perspectives and finding creative solutions. While adapting can be stressful, it’s typically less so than resisting, and it offers more influence over your personal outcome.

Adapting turns uncertainty into opportunity. It allows you to shape your path forward and grow through change rather than just endure it. A strong example is Netflix. After disrupting Blockbuster’s model, Netflix didn’t stop evolving. It transitioned from mail-order DVDs to streaming — pioneering a new industry and maintaining its leadership by continuing to adapt to customer needs.

Whether personally or organizationally, adapting is my personal go-to when facing uncertainty. This moderate-effort, high-reward approach puts you in the driver’s seat of your growth. It’s a powerful way to make the most of a change and set yourself up for success following change. 

Lead – Inspire Others Through Uncertainty

Sometimes, you’re not just navigating change — you’re leading others through it. Whether you hold a formal leadership role or step up informally, guiding people through uncertainty requires vision, empathy and resilience. It’s a high-stress role with only moderate control over outcomes, since you can’t dictate how others will respond. Still, effective leadership during change is both meaningful and impactful.

Great change leaders understand that change is a process, not a single event. They address both the practical and emotional needs of individuals and teams. Here are a few key practices:

• Communicate clearly: Share the why behind the change, the vision ahead and what it means for each person.
• Model resilience: Be open about your own challenges and learning. Your example sets the tone.
• Support and empower: Listen actively, validate concerns and involve others in shaping the path forward.
• Celebrate progress, acknowledge resistance: Recognize small wins to build momentum. Treat resistance with empathy; it’s often a natural response to uncertainty.
• Provide tools and training: Equip people with the resources and skills they need to succeed.

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about being a steady, trusted presence who helps others find clarity, confidence and purpose amid change.

Resources To Help You Thrive During Uncertainty

Navigating uncertainty can be challenging and stressful, but you’re not alone. Here are a few resources available at NC State:

• Learning and Organizational Development offers instructor-led training and team retreats to support change management skills.
  
• LinkedIn Learning offers thousands of online courses covering change, communication and resilience. NC State provides free access to LinkedIn Learning for employees. You must log in using your NC State email address.
  
• The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program offers confidential support for navigating personal and professional challenges.

Wrap-Up: Choose Your Path Forward

Change is inevitable, but your response is a powerful choice. Change not only influences outcomes, it shapes your personal growth and resilience. Whether you choose to flow, resist, adapt or lead, the most important steps are to pause and reflect and respond with intention.

When in doubt, start with adaptation. It’s a flexible, empowering approach that often opens doors to unexpected growth.

And remember, you’re not alone. Change affects everyone, and support is all around you. Lean on your community, offer help when you can and take advantage of the many resources available at NC State.