By: Sabrina Smith
Change has become a constant in today's workplace. Organizations are restructuring. Teams are being reorganized. Companies are merging, being acquired, or adapting to new business realities. Budgets are tightening. Priorities are shifting. For many professionals, especially women leaders balancing multiple responsibilities, it can feel as though the ground is constantly moving beneath their feet.
During a recent PWH Cultural Inclusion & Diversity Committee discussion, members shared experiences navigating acquisitions, leadership transitions, workforce changes, and organizational uncertainty. Some described positive outcomes and opportunities that emerged from change. Others shared the stress and anxiety that often accompany not knowing what comes next. While every story was different, one theme consistently surfaced:
Stay the course.
At first glance, that advice may sound simple. Yet anyone who has lived through significant change knows it can be one of the most difficult leadership challenges we face.
Why Uncertainty Feels So Difficult
Human beings are wired to seek certainty. We want to know what is happening, why it is happening, and what it means for our future. When answers are unavailable, our minds often fill in the gaps. We begin imagining worst-case scenarios. We replay conversations. We spend energy trying to predict outcomes that are beyond our control. The challenge is that uncertainty can consume our attention while providing very little value. Many leaders find themselves focusing on questions they cannot answer instead of actions they can take.
What if my role changes?
What if leadership changes?
What if our priorities shift?
These concerns are understandable. However, they can distract us from the one thing that remains within our control: how we choose to respond.
Responding Instead of Reacting
One of the defining characteristics of effective leaders is the ability to respond thoughtfully rather than react emotionally. Reaction is often fueled by fear. Response is guided by purpose. When uncertainty increases, responding means continuing to focus on the behaviors and actions that have contributed to your success:
Showing up consistently
Supporting your team
Maintaining professionalism
Delivering on commitments
Investing in relationships
These actions may not eliminate uncertainty, but they create stability where stability is needed most.
Finding Opportunity Within Change
Many of the leaders we admire did not build their careers during periods of comfort. They grew during periods of disruption. Change often forces us to develop new skills, expand our networks, increase our visibility, and discover strengths we did not know we possessed.
One committee member shared that after experiencing multiple organizational changes over several years, she realized something important. While she could not control executive decisions, she could control how she showed up for her team. By communicating openly, remaining consistent, and focusing on what was within her influence, she became a source of stability for others.
That is leadership. Leadership does not mean you have all the answers. Leadership is helping others move forward when answers are not yet available.
Practical Leadership Takeaways
1. Focus on Your Circle of Control
Create three columns:
Things I can control
Things I can influence
Things I cannot control
Spend most of your energy in the first two categories.
2. Create Stability for Others
When uncertainty increases, people look for consistency. Simple actions such as regular communication, clear expectations, and follow-through can help reduce anxiety within teams.
3. Resist Catastrophic Thinking
Not every organizational change leads to a negative outcome. When you find yourself assuming the worst, pause and ask: "What facts do I actually know today?"
4. Strengthen Your Network
Periods of change remind us of the importance of relationships. Invest in mentors, colleagues, and professional communities before you need them.
5. Look for the Opportunity
Ask yourself: "What might this experience be preparing me for?" Growth often arrives disguised as disruption.
Questions for Reflection
What aspect of uncertainty is most challenging for me right now?
Am I spending more energy on what I cannot control than what I can?
How do I want others to describe my leadership during this season?
What opportunity might be hidden within the challenge I am facing?
Final Thought
While uncertainty may be unavoidable, losing yourself in the process is not. Your title may change. Your organization may change. Your responsibilities may change. But your values, character, and leadership remain yours to define. The next time you find yourself facing uncertainty, remember that you do not need every answer to move forward. You simply need to take the next right step. Stay focused. Stay grounded. Stay the course.
Leadership Reflection
Leadership isn't defined by a single moment. It's shaped by the choices we make every day. As you move through the week, consider one action you can take to strengthen your leadership, support those around you, and positively influence your workplace. Small, intentional choices often create the greatest lasting impact.
Leadership Conversations from CID
Each month, members of the PWH Cultural Inclusion & Diversity Committee come together to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and experiences shaping leadership across the healthcare industry. While each conversation is unique, common themes often emerge—lessons about resilience, inclusion, professional growth, and leading with purpose.
This article was inspired by those conversations. Individual experiences have been generalized to protect confidentiality while preserving the leadership lessons shared by our community. Our hope is that these reflections encourage meaningful dialogue, thoughtful leadership, and practical action among PWH members.