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Bouncing back. That’s an expression you hear a lot these days. The economy will “bounce back.” You will “bounce back” after uncertainty, stress and staggering change bend you all out of shape. You’ll “bounce back” from dealing with working from home, tending to the kids, enduring ‘Zoom fatigue’ and general mental, emotional and physical disruption. It’s a nice, encouraging idea. But maybe it’s kind of wrong. I’m thinking it’s more about “bouncing forward.” Being resilient, in my opinion, isn’t about bouncing back, like how a marshmallow resumes its previous shape after an aggressive finger press (sort of). No, resilience is about having the wherewithal to spring in a different direction or become something new necessitated by the circumstances. It takes ...
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One of the secrets about dealing with change and uncertainty seemed counter-intuitive when I first discovered it… Thinking can be dangerous. As someone who likes to be thoughtful and smart about the actions I take (heck, my company name is “ThoughtAction”), my first inclination in dealing with today’s unprecedented world situation is to try to ‘figure it out.” That works a lot of the time, just not right now. As a professional executive coach, my studies have explored the prevailing neuroscience research into how our brains operate and deal with change. The big learning:  the way our brains usually function to make our lives work doesn’t help so much in times of change. To deal with the onslaught of information, ...
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Your employees are dealing with a lot right now. If it’s not the effects of the unpredictable pandemic, the tectonic economic changes are rattling everyone from top to bottom in your organization. Add to that the societal and political issues that have everyone on edge and concerned about the future. Then there’s the “new normal” of “no normal.” No wonder it feels like uncharted territory. Whew! So, what do your people need from you as a leader right now? With “people being people” and all, this immense pressure and disruption means that members of your team need a level of understanding and support from you that has been amped up by the current conditions. Where to begin? Focus on five ...
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It is sure easy to become distracted these days. One minute an idea is there. The next, it's lost in the ether with another thought, email, text, pop-up, phone alert “ding” or incomplete task diverting me.  How about for you? At work and at home (which for me these days is 100% the same), I’m finding it increasingly challenging to focus on the “heads-down” work that is a portion of my daily work as a professional coach and consultant (like writing this blog). I don’t know about you, but I find the increased use of technology for every single meeting is exhausting and mentally draining.  And, I’ve used Zoom daily for my business for over five years - I’m not ...
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The health of your business depends on the health of your employees. The mental health of your employees, that is. With so much rapid change, it’s hard to accommodate it. Work in many fields has gone instantly virtual (by necessity or by choice).  With the uncertain economy, many are experiencing layoffs and furloughs (or the fear of them). And, around the world society is shifting in massive ways very quickly. No wonder your people have a bit of anxiety. It’s a normal reaction to change. Our brains are instinctively wired that way. It’s what your people do with the fear and anxiety that makes the difference. And it’s what you do as their leader to create an environment where they ...
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A good leader is supposed to have all the answers, right? After all, people look to you for direction, guidance and what they should do. And, a good portion of your confidence as a leader is built upon your experience, your wisdom and you knowing what-is-what. Except that isn’t working any more. Everything is confused, turbulent and changing moment by moment. So, your usually-confident-self starts to doubt your value, your standing as a leader and your whole reputation, a little or a lot. It’s a pretty uncomfortable situation. And, without answers, your people feel uncomfortable. They lose momentum. Plus, you don’t have the answers they are looking for (or are not at liberty to discuss them). However, as much as ...
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