Maggie Jackson

And we have a tremendous stress response to uncertainty that makes sense because we evolved to need answers.

So when we're put in that spot, when we're on the spot with being uncertain, we actually feel stressed.

But while your heart might beat and you might sweat a bit, at the same time, there are these astonishing changes in the brain that are remarkably positive.

For instance, your focus widens.

and your brain becomes more receptive to new knowledge.

Your working memory actually is bolstered when you're in that uncertain moment.

And so the brain, as one neuroscientist told me, is telling itself there's something to be learned here.

partly because we equate that uncertainty with this negative condition.

But at the same time, if you can sort of understand that uncertainty is a moment of vigilance, it's not an easy thing.

It's actually challenging.

to wake up from the status quo from your expectation.

You thought you were going to get there on time.

You thought that maybe this job wouldn't have a mean boss or whatever, but your expectations are broken.

That's exactly when the human being learns.

That's why babies seek out what's surprising in their environment.

And so uncertainty, if we don't cut short the opportunity to be uncertain, then we can learn.

It's actually the foundation, the stepping stone to learning.

And it's really important.

And one illustration comes from a study of CEOs in Europe when the European Union was expanding.

And two business school professors studied and surveyed and interviewed 100 CEOs in Western Europe about this change.