Leading Through Uncertainty: Caring for Your Team and Yourself

It’s hard not to be affected by headlines right now. Nearly every day we are confronted with news stories about environmental, geopolitical and technological changes that can feel overwhelming and beyond our control. 

Recognizing this, The Canadian Mental Health Association of North and West Vancouver recently shared
How News Consumption Affects Mental Health: Finding a balanced approach. In the article, they note that “In today’s fast-paced world, news spreads rapidly, often reaching us unfiltered and in real-time. This constant influx of information can be overwhelming, with distressing headlines lingering in our minds and affecting our emotional well-being. Yet, staying informed remains essential for civic responsibility and social awareness.”

They recommend that we take ownership of our media engagement and assess our level of news consumption to ensure it “sustainably supports—not harms—our mental health and ability to contribute meaningfully to the community,” as well as these strategies:

• Set time limits – CMHA says research shows that setting boundaries can reduce anxiety and information overload.

• Curate sources – Focus on evidence-based information and not just emotionally charged and biased viewpoints to avoid unnecessary distress.

• Explore different perspectives – Look at issues from all angles and perspectives to feel more informed and less emotionally reactive.

• Include constructive and solutions-oriented journalism – Engage with news that highlights solutions, innovations, progress or uplifting stories that foster empowerment, agency and community action rather than despair.

• Recognize emotional triggers – Pay attention to how different types of news impact your mood and mental state.

• Take breaks when needed – Step away from media when it becomes overwhelming.

Let employees know you understand and care about how they’re feeling

The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer highlights that in the face of shifting geopolitics, economic uncertainty and disruptive AI, trust is built on organizations valuing and caring for employees’ best interests. They recommend three steps that leaders can take to “earn and anchor trust.”

1. Check – Transparent, frequent check-ins help organizations understand how change is landing on the ground and where trust may be at risk.

2. Commit – Focus communication on commitments the organization can realistically keep. Clear commitments backed by consistent behaviour are powerful signals that reinforce trust over time.

3. Communicate – Move beyond one-way announcements to two-way dialogue.

You can’t control how employees consume and respond to the news, but you can lend support and help them find a healthy balance so they stay informed while protecting their mental health and well-being.

• Let employees know they aren’t alone. Talk about how difficult it can be to absorb so many troubling headlines.

•  Acknowledge concerns and lend support when needed. Employees need to be able to feel their emotions without fear of being judged.

• If employees want to talk about how they are feeling, be sure you and other leaders in your organization engage in active listening.

• Remind employees of the resources that are available to support them. If you have provided the necessary training, such as Mental Health First Aid, let them know that they can talk to people in the organization, including managers and employee groups if they need personal support. In some cases, you may want to recommend that they seek professional help.

• Pay attention to your own feelings and model the behaviours you’re asking employees to adopt.

[Visit WSPS’s website to learn about free mental health training courses.]

Set the standard for managing stress and anxiety in uncertain times

As leaders, you’re taking in all the same national and world news, on top of the good and bad news you hear in your organization every day. One of the most impactful ways you can show employees that you understand is to talk to them about how you are practicing self-care to manage your feelings and concerns. 

You want to be careful not to overextend yourself to compensate for what you can’t control. If you’re experiencing signs of mental fatigue or anxiousness, be sure to seek support so that it doesn’t become something far more difficult to manage.

The tips that CMHA provides for general news consumption can also be applied to the way you manage the intake of information in your workplace. Setting boundaries, considering different viewpoints, paying close attention to evidence-based insights and taking breaks, when necessary, are essential steps to protect your mental health and well-being so you can remain a steady, reassuring presence in your workplace.

As leaders, you can’t control the headlines, the pace of change or how employees respond to what is happening in the world, but we can control how you show up. By acknowledging concerns, creating space for open dialogue, encouraging healthy boundaries and connecting employees with support, you can create a workplace where people feel heard and supported in uncertain times.

Get to know the authors – Fresh Communications