There are many times of uncertainty, and as a result, many of us experience a prolonged separation from our usual ways of being and doing. In other words, we have liminal experiences – experiences that represent a break from the familiar but do not completely replace it. The prolonged uncertainty that comes with living in liminal times can cause leaders and employees to feel unsettled or anxious, but the authors of this article remind us that we have more freedom of action during these times than we do. let’s not think so. They offer advice on how to not only survive such times, but also treat them as a time for reflection and learning.

Right now, many of us feel suspended between what once was and what is yet to come. In the United States, this sense of prolonged uncertainty reflects the length of the presidential election process, with consequences being felt in countries around the world. But the problem is even more serious: times of uncertainty are numerous, in our organizations and in our society, and as a result many of us experience what we call liminal experiences.