Supporting UC Davis Leaders in Navigating Uncertainty

This toolkit equips UC Davis leaders with practical resources to navigate the complexities of change and disruption, including budget constraints and an evolving political climate. It is designed to equip managers and supervisors with strategies, models, and tools to maintain team engagement, build trust, and foster resilience during uncertain times.

Mindfulness Practices for Leadership Resilience

Cultivating a mindfulness practice can help leaders better manage their own responses and support their teams effectively.

Resources

• UC Davis Live Mindfulness Meditation (Staff and Faculty Well-being)
• Guided mindfulness exercises for workplace resilience (courtesy of UC San Diego)
• Short meditation practices for reducing stress

Call to Action: Attend these sessions yourself and encourage your team to participate. Use mindfulness techniques in team meetings to reduce stress and improve focus

Building and Maintaining Trust in Times of Change

Trust is critical during uncertainty, ensuring employees remain engaged and motivated.

Strategies

• Transparent and consistent communication
• Acknowledging challenges while reinforcing stability
• Encouraging employee feedback and involvement in problem-solving
• Leading with empathy and emotional intelligence

Resources

• Team communication templates for change management 
• Change resistance
• How we adapt in transition
• Building trust
• Strengthening communication

Call to Action: Use these tools to facilitate open conversations with your team about trust and change. Schedule regular check-ins to reinforce transparency and employee engagement.

Change Management and Leadership Models

Equipping leaders with structured approaches to guide their teams through disruption.

Models

• Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model – A structured approach to leading change
• ADKAR Model – Helping individuals adapt to change
• VUCA Framework – Navigating Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity
• Situational Leadership Model – Adjusting leadership style to team needs
• SCARF Model – Five key social domains (Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness) that can trigger either a threat response or a reward response in our brains
• Fisher model – The Personal Transition Curve – is an analysis of how individuals deal with change

Call to Action: Review these models and select one to apply in your team’s change initiatives. Use them to guide structured discussions and training sessions.

Key Insights from Harvard Business Review (HBR) Articles

Providing leaders with research-backed strategies to manage change and uncertainty. Requires UC Davis Kerberos login to access.

Recommended Articles

• HBR-How to Become More Adaptable in Challenging Situations
• HBR-4 Strategies to Guide Your Team Through a Departmental Transition
• HBR-Creating Stability Is Just as Important as Managing Change
• HBR-Leading Change May Need to Begin with Changing Yourself
• HBR-How to Speak Confidently to Your Team During Chaotic Times
• HBR-Bringing Down the Temperature During Polarizing Times

Call to Action: Read one article per week/month and discuss key takeaways with your team. Identify actionable insights to apply in your workplace.

Recommended Books on Leading Through Change (Free Resources)

Further reading to deepen understanding and application of leadership strategies:

• 10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times: Coaching your Team Through Immense Change and Challenge 
• Driving Down Cost: How to Manage and Cut Costs Intelligently (3h) 
• A New Strategy for Continuous Improvement: 10 Steps to Lower Cost and Operational Excellence (1.5h) 
• Certain Uncertainty: Leading with Agility and Resilience in an Unpredictable World

Call to Action: Select one book and start a leadership book club. Discuss practical applications with your peers or team.

E-Courses for Skill Development

Self-paced online learning resources to support leadership growth:

• Adaptive Recovery: Learning to Live and Manage Amidst Challenging Times (1h) 
• Being an Effective Manager when Times are Tough (20 min) 
• Managing in a Crisis (20 min) 
• Coaching, Feedback, and Making Choices (1.25h) 
• Embracing Change at Work (22 min)

Call to Action: Complete at least one course and apply the insights in your leadership role. Encourage your team to take relevant courses and discuss learnings in meetings.

Additional UC Davis Resources

Units providing support to supervisors, managers, and teams:

• Learning and Organizational Development
• Academic and Staff Assistance Program (ASAP)
• Employee and Labor Relations
• Ombuds Office (conflict management)
• Staff and Faculty Wellbeing
• Clinician Health and Wellbeing

Call to Action: Reach out to these resources for personalized support. Encourage employees to use these services to manage stress and uncertainty effectively. 

This toolkit provides a comprehensive set of resources to help UC Davis leaders navigate change and disruption effectively. By fostering resilience, maintaining trust, and leveraging proven strategies, leaders can support their teams and drive positive outcomes during challenging times. We encourage UC Davis leaders to leverage these resources, engage in continuous learning, and build a supportive environment for their teams. Change is inevitable, and with the right tools and mindset, you can lead with confidence and resilience.