Nothing Has Gone As Planned

It seems that nothing has gone as planned this year. What a drastic understatement! I don’t know about you, but my resilience has never been tested more. I want to share some of the ways I keep from feeling defeated during all the uncertainty. I also want to share a couple of things I need to improve on, because no one is perfect.

Being Responsive

I am responsive. A forward-thinking mindset has kept me from sinking deep into those hopeless feelings we have all experienced in life, and especially in 2020.

When I have a day where things go sideways, I become responsive to the situation I am faced with. Of course, I might get down for a bit, but I never let myself stay there for too long. Creating a plan to move forward gives me comfort and helps me feel in control. If you are able to do the same, you could be a pivotal player in a work environment.

Being True

I am true to myself. I can’t say this has always been the case, but I made a commitment to myself to a few years ago to be open about my needs, feelings and ideas. I am not saying it’s okay to act badly and chalk it up to “That’s just who I am.” I am talking about authenticity that is kind and productive.

Not only does this feel good to me, it feels good to others. When you are sharing in a sincere way, people feel comfortable to do the same. As a leader in your organization, this can have such an impact on dynamics and culture.

I have selected great people to share my life with. My support system is awesome, and I do take some credit for that. One of my greatest lessons was learning that I have control over who is in my personal life, and that I do not need to feel obligated to share personal things at work.

If you feel comfortable sharing things at work, I don’t think that is wrong. For me, it creates distraction and/or stress, depending on the topic I would be sharing. Misery loves company, but your co-workers are not always the best company for personal issues. In a year where nothing has gone as planned, I'm sticking to my tribe for that. You might want to do the same.

Work-Life Balance

I am trying to find work-life balance. Work has always given me gratification, fulfillment, and a sense of pride. I can get lost in it, but as I get older, I realize I need more of a balance in order to be happy and make the people I love happy. One good thing that has come from my COVID-19 experience is more efficiency in my days. I feel as if I have more time when I am working from home. I can start earlier, get everything done for everyone, and enjoy more time for myself. I know how important this is and that some people are naturally better at it than others. I’m always looking for ways to improve in this area.

Asking for Help

I am getting better at asking for help. This has been my biggest struggle in every area of my life, and I know it is important for so many reasons. It is why I get overwhelmed at work and home, and it is what keeps me from having work life-balance.

If you are great at knowing when to ask for help and having work life balance, send me your secrets! lrigsby@salesfuel.com