The human edge in times of uncertainty
2025 was the year artificial intelligence finally broke through. AI was no longer just a promise, but an everyday reality. With the rise of AI agents, we even began to feel that humans were becoming replaceable.
And at the same time, something else was happening. Less visible, but just as profound. We saw a decline in critical thinking, a decline in the desire to learn, and a growing tendency to trust what sounds plausible rather than what is true. Not because people are naive, but because our brains are under pressure.
Stress narrows our focus. Uncertainty speeds up our thinking. And when these two factors combine, we’re quicker to grasp at something to hold onto—even if it’s illusory. Think of the now-infamous Santorini incident: images of hotels with swimming pools where the water was literally flowing uphill. Completely fabricated. Believed by the masses. Not out of stupidity, but out of stress. Fear of missing out or not having enough mental bandwidth to really think critically.
What’s different today compared to the past is the mix of factors we’re living in: algorithms that amplify polarization, echo chambers that reinforce our existing views, and economic uncertainty that’s closing in. As we head toward 2026, organizations are speaking openly about restructuring. That’s having a ripple effect. Uncertainty creates stress. And stress—if we don’t learn to manage it—undermines precisely what we need most today: collaboration, trust, and meaning.
2026: Making Stress Work for us, instead of letting it control us
Allowing uncertainty to determine who we become comes at a high cost—for mental health, for leadership, and for teams. Our brains seek control through rules, processes, and predictability. That brings peace of mind—or at least the illusion of it. But not everything that matters can be controlled.
That’s why, at Oh My People, we’re consciously choosing a different focus in 2026. It’s not about reducing stress to zero—that’s an illusion. It’s about learning to make stress work for us.
“Making stress work ” means:
- Learning to recognize tension before it escalates
- Having difficult conversations instead of avoiding them
- Creating safety without erasing differences
- Use stress as a signal, not as an enemy
For us, this is the human edge: the ability to remain human under pressure—and to grow stronger precisely because of it.
An invitation for 2026: reflection
We’re not starting this year with grand resolutions. We’re starting closer to home. Take a moment for this exercise.
Look back on the past year. When were you at your best? Which moments gave you energy? Write them down in specific terms. What were you doing? Who were you with? What made them meaningful? Find the common thread. What do these moments have in common?
And ask yourself one honest question: What do you need to excel, especially when you’re under pressure? Not tomorrow. Not someday. But today. Because perhaps the key to 2026 isn’t in reducing stress, but in learning to better cope with what’s already there.
That is our invitation. And that is what we at Oh My People are consciously choosing to do in 2026: harness the power of stress and stay true to our humanity. Shoulder to shoulder. Especially when it matters most.
Would you like to start 2026 with greater resilience and the skills to turn stress into a positive force? Explore our training offerings or contact us for guidance tailored to your organization.
(In)security in the age of AI and fake news
The impact of AI and fake news is often discussed in terms of technology, ethics, or information quality. Less visible, but more fundamental, is their effect on the human stress response. Psychological and neurobiological research on chronic stress shows that the brain reacts not so much to a single event as to persistent uncertainty.
What makes your SME strong can sometimes also make it vulnerable
What if the biggest risk in the workplace isn’t burnout, but nobody speaking up anymore?
I see this happen a lot in small businesses. Everything moves quickly, everyone pitches in, and no one really asks, “Is this actually still manageable?” There’s a lot of goodwill. A lot of people who get things done. A lot of flexibility.
And it is precisely that—that strength—that can quietly become a pitfall.
Growing pains aren’t a bug; they’re at the heart of innovation
Every growing small and medium-sized business knows the feeling: what was second nature yesterday is causing friction today. Roles shift, employees take on new responsibilities, and teams struggle to find their footing. Growth hurts, but that pain isn’t a mistake. It’s part of the plan.
