HBR Staff/filadendron/Getty Images
As we move into 2026, many leaders are fretting about the uncertain business environment. Given the transformational nature of AI, geopolitical instability, or economic disruption, it’s hard to plan for the future. According to an academic project that has tracked global economic policy uncertainty since the 1980s, the five highest measurements of uncertainty recorded since the study began have all come in the past five years. Mentions of uncertainty in Glassdoor reviews are up 80% year over year. And the word itself appeared in 87% of public earnings statements in early 2025.
