When Everything Around You is Shifting: Staying Grounded in Government Work
April 24, 2025
Introduction: Navigating Change Without Losing Your Bearings
If you work in government right now—federal, state, or local—you’re probably feeling it: the pace of change is high, the pressure is real, and the path forward isn’t always clear. Between policy shifts, staffing uncertainties, funding changes, shifting mandates, and rising public expectations, even the most seasoned professionals are being stretched in new ways.
But here’s the truth: you’re not alone. And more importantly, even though it may feel like it, you’re not powerless.
This isn’t just an article about getting through uncertainty. It’s a conversation about how to keep your feet on the ground when everything else is moving. A reminder that what you do matters—and that with a few thoughtful shifts, you can stay grounded, effective, and even find meaning in the chaos.
Let’s talk about how to stay steady when everything else is in motion.
1. Anchor Yourself in Purpose
When change accelerates, purpose becomes more than a north star—it becomes an anchor.
You joined public service for a reason. Whether it was a calling, a cause, or a community, reconnecting with that purpose can provide clarity when circumstances feel cloudy.
Revisit Your Why: What brought you into this work? What impact have you seen firsthand? Take a few minutes to reflect on the moments that reaffirmed why you chose this path.
Link Daily Tasks to Bigger Goals: Even administrative or technical roles contribute to something larger. Try drawing a line between what you do each day and the public good it supports.
Talk About Purpose With Your Team: Create space for others to share their “why.” It builds morale and reminds everyone that their work has meaning beyond the next deadline.
The more clearly you can see the purpose behind your role, the more grounded you’ll feel—even as the world around you shifts.
2. Focus on What You Can Control
Uncertainty often makes us feel like everything is out of our hands. But there’s always something you can influence. And focusing on what is within your control builds both resilience and momentum.
Start Small: What can you take ownership of today? It might be how you show up to a meeting, how you support a colleague, or how you organize your own priorities.
Clarify Priorities: In times of change, not everything can be a top priority. Get clear on what matters most—to you, your team, and your stakeholders.
Adapt Where Needed: Rigidity can increase stress. Flexibility—within your sphere of control—can make you more effective and less reactive.
As a public servant, you can’t control everything that comes your way. But you can choose how you respond, where you focus your energy, and what you lead forward.
3. Communicate With Intention
When things feel uncertain, people need clarity—not just about the what, but about the why and how. Intentional communication is one of the most powerful tools you have for reducing stress, building trust, and keeping progress moving.
Share Early, Share Often: Keep your team and partners informed, even if all the details aren’t final. Transparency builds credibility.
Make Space for Feedback: Use meetings, surveys, or informal check-ins to invite input. Listening well is just as important as sharing updates.
Be Honest About What You Know (and Don’t): People don’t expect perfection, but they do appreciate candor. A simple "we’re still figuring this out" can go a long way.
If you’re a leader, sometimes you have to do this for your team despite needing answers yourself. It’s a challenge. Even if you’re not in a formal leadership role, your communication shapes how others experience change. Intentional, transparent dialogue helps keep everyone aligned and grounded even when outcomes are unclear.
4. Build a Team Culture That Can Bend Without Breaking
Teams that thrive in uncertainty aren’t necessarily the ones with the most resources—they’re the ones that stay connected, adaptable, and aligned.
Check In As Humans: Regularly ask your team how they’re doing—not just what they’re doing. Psychological safety is a prerequisite for resilience.
Encourage Experimentation: Don’t wait for perfect conditions to try something new. Celebrate the learning, even when experiments don’t pan out.
Adjust Norms Together: In changing conditions, revisit how your team works. Do your meetings still serve their purpose? Are roles and goals still clear?
A culture that embraces flexibility, trust, and shared ownership can weather change far better than one clinging to the "old way" just because it feels familiar.
5. Use Data to Stay Grounded in Reality
In moments of flux, it’s easy to act based on assumptions or urgency. But data helps you cut through the noise and make informed decisions that serve your mission.
Track What Matters: Identify a few key indicators that reflect progress on your goals. They don’t have to be complex—just consistent.
Gather Insights From the Front Lines: Encourage feedback from those closest to the work—whether it’s constituents, internal teams, or external partners.
Balance Numbers With Narratives: Data isn’t just quantitative. Stories, testimonials, and lived experiences help round out your understanding. You may need to provide quantitative numbers, but use qualitative even if internally to celebrate the great work you and your team are doing despite everything else that’s going.
When things are in motion, staying grounded in evidence helps you lead with clarity and confidence.
6. Take Care of Your Capacity—And Help Others Do the Same
You can’t pour from an empty cup. And during uncertain times, burnout becomes an even greater risk. Protecting your own capacity isn’t self-indulgent—it’s strategic.
Set Realistic Boundaries: Know when to log off. Take breaks. Model sustainable work habits.
Normalize Asking for Help: Encourage a culture where people feel safe saying, “I’m overloaded.” Support should be a team norm, not a last resort.
Invest in Well-being: Mental health resources, peer support, flexible work options—these aren’t perks. They’re necessities.
A resilient workforce is one that knows how to recharge and support each other. And that starts with each person being honest about what they need.
7. Keep Learning, Keep Growing
In unpredictable environments, the best skill you can cultivate is the ability to adapt and grow.
Stay Curious: Approach challenges as opportunities to learn, not just problems to fix.
Seek Out New Perspectives: Read, listen, and engage with others outside your usual circles. Insight often comes from the edges.
Share What You’re Learning: Make reflection and knowledge-sharing part of how your team works.
Growth doesn’t require a five-year plan. It just requires the willingness to learn from where you are right now.
8. Lead from Where You Are
Leadership isn’t just a title—it’s a posture. Especially in times of uncertainty, your steady presence, thoughtful action, and commitment to service can make a bigger difference than you think.
Model What Matters: How you respond to stress, how you treat others, and how you handle setbacks sets a tone for those around you.
Lift Others Up: Celebrate your colleagues. Share credit. Make space for new voices.
Practice Quiet Leadership: Sometimes, the most powerful leadership is simply showing up with empathy, consistency, and integrity.
Even if you don’t sit at the top of an org chart, you have the power to influence how others experience this moment. That’s leadership.
Conclusion: You Are the Steady Force
Uncertainty is here—and likely, it’s not going anywhere soon. But within that reality lies an opportunity: to step into the moment with clarity, compassion, and commitment.
Government work isn’t easy. But it’s needed. And you, exactly as you are, have something essential to offer: a steady hand, a thoughtful voice, a grounded presence.
So when everything around you is shifting, stay rooted in your values. Stay connected to your purpose. Stay committed to what matters most.
Because you’re not just navigating change.
You’re helping others find their footing, too.
If this resonated with you, pass it on. Your colleagues might need the same reminder you did. And if you want more practical strategies or personal stories from the field, let’s stay connected.