ASE recently surveyed 149 ASE member companies across Michigan, and the results confirmed what many of us have been feeling. The top three challenges expected for 2026 were attracting and retaining talent (49.7%), economic uncertainty (44.3%), and employee engagement or workforce issues (30.9%). With 44% of you naming economic uncertainty as a top challenge, I know this is weighing heavily on your minds as you plan for the year ahead.

According to economist Andrew Busch, most of today's uncertainty isn't about the unknown; it's about risks we already see coming. He explains that when uncertainty is anticipated, businesses adjust and persistent disruption becomes manageable once it's the baseline. That's why Q4 2025 GDP kept running at around 5% despite all the headwinds. Busch emphasizes that “uncertainty doesn’t stop growth, misunderstanding does.”

Uncertainty isn't going away. As leaders we have an obligation to develop our tolerance for uncertainty and lead our organizations through the fog. Drawing on insights from a recent Harvard Business Review article by Simone Stolzoff, I want to share three principles that can help us not just survive uncertainty, but actually thrive within it.

Anchor in Your Principles

Your anchor might be your company's values, a commitment to serving a particular target customer, or fundamental operating principles that remain constant regardless of market conditions.

Ask yourself: What are the non-negotiables that guide your business regardless of market conditions? Get crystal clear on these, and decision-making becomes easier even when the path forward isn't obvious.

Motion Versus Action

When things feel uncertain, our first impulse is usually to plan. We want more data, better forecasts, and detailed strategic roadmaps. But especially in today's fast-moving world, spending too much time planning can come at the expense of progress. It reminds me of a book I read, Atomic Habits by James Clear, where he talks about motion versus action. He states, “"When preparation becomes a form of procrastination, you need to change something. You don't want to merely be planning. You want to be practicing.” If you stay stuck in planning mode, you'll never initiate change; instead, you'll watch from the sidelines as more decisive competitors move through the uncertainty ahead of you.

See the Opportunity in the Uncertainty

I find this neuroscience fascinating: when we perceive uncertainty as a threat, blood flows away from the brain toward the body as we prepare to fight or flight. But when we see uncertainty as an opportunity to learn, we enter what scientists call "approach mode.” Our blood vessels dilate, sending more oxygen to the brain, allowing us to explore new ways of thinking. The connection between mind and body is amazing. When you reframe uncertainty as opportunity, you unlock the mental space needed for innovative thinking.

Moving Forward Together

Building tolerance for uncertainty isn’t easy or comfortable. Our brains are wired to seek certainty, to want clear answers and predictable outcomes. We’ve adapted through recessions, technological disruptions, and seismic shifts in how people work, and we'll navigate this period of uncertainty too, but we need to lead differently and with confidence.

At the end of the day, leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about having the courage to move forward. How do you lead through uncertainty? Email me at mcorrado@aseonline.org