Finding Steady Ground in an Uncertain Landscape
Embracing change can mean finding support, seeking opportunity and staying focused on the mission.
As a Director of Research Administration, Deborah Martin leads a team that manages research grants in the Duke University School of Medicine.
Over the past year, a lot has changed in Martin's world. Funding has shifted abruptly, with some research support lost altogether, reshaping how Martin and those around her work seemingly overnight.
“We’re trying to implement and operationalize change that we know of and we're still waiting for answers for things that may or may not be changing, but we can't guess what that looks like,” Martin said. “And then we don’t even know what’s on the horizon.”
Change is hard. But, as the old saying goes, it’s the only constant in life.
Martin has learned through past experiences how best to manage uncertainty to minimize anxiety and frustration.
The first step, she says, is simply accepting reality.
Author summary: Managing uncertainty requires acceptance of reality.