What Research Reveals About Responding to Change and Uncertainty at Work

Jul 7, 2026

Is there a secret ingredient when it comes to coping with the stress of uncertainty?

Are you dealing with just a little bit of uncertainty these days?

A lot of change going on in the world right now. I suspect you are. Well, in my book, “Small Moments, Big Outcomes: How Leaders Create Cultures that Feel Extraordinary Results,” my brilliant friend and colleague, Jennifer Spear, writes about a secret sauce, a secret ingredient, if you will, that can help us all deal with uncertainty in these crazy uncertain times.

So I want to share what Jennifer uncovered in some fascinating research that can help us all thrive during change and uncertainty.

Jennifer Spear was part of a research study that studied how we cope with uncertainty during one of the most uncertain times in recent history. Yes, the global pandemic. And what she found, and I love what she writes in my book about this, is that “not everyone in a crisis is in crisis.”

Let me say that again.

Not everyone in a crisis is in crisis.

In other words, as her study found, 14% of people actually thrived during the pandemic. They thrived during this incredibly chaotic time of uncertainty and massive change. The secret ingredient that Jennifer uncovered in the research was simply curiosity, something we can all leverage. Embracing curiosity proved to be one of the keys to helping people cope with uncertainty and massive change and to help them cope and help them with their overall wellbeing even.

How cool is that? So as leaders, you need to create a culture of curiosity in your workplace, especially during uncertain times. As Jennifer writes in Small Moments, Big Outcomes, simply taking a step back and asking thoughtful questions like, “I wonder why this is happening?’ or “I wonder what I might learn during this period” helps people cope with the stress of uncertainty.

And asking creative questions for solutions also helps: How might we deal with this? How might we come out even ahead during this period of uncertainty? How might we tap into the expertise of our teams more effectively during these times of uncertainty to truly embrace the change that is happening around us?

So, as a leader, ask questions, create a culture of curiosity, create a question board, pose a big honking question of the month for employees to be curious about. Constantly ask yourself and your team questions. Tap into the power of curiosity, as Jennifer writes, to help you deal with change, to help you deal with uncertainty, and help your overall wellbeing during these crazy uncertain times.

 

Known as “The Workplace Energizer!” Michael Kerr is a Canadian Hall of Fame keynote speaker on workplace culture, workplace culture leadership, and humor in the workplace. Michael Kerr is the author of nine books, including Small Moments, Big Outcomes: How Leaders Create Cultures That Fuel Extraordinary Results. Michael is known as one of the most entertaining, humorous, and insightful keynote speakers on workplace culture and leadership in Canada.

“By far, Michael Kerr was the best speaker we ever had.”  Rod Smith, VP Business Development, Century Vallen