This week, it seems reality and fatigue are catching up. The long-term nature of this marathon caused by COVID-19 has offered opportunities and challenges for everyone. No one is participating part time. As a leader, you may be doing everything right and taking care of yourself and others; and you may still be tired. I’ve worked out every day since March…
When you don’t know what to write, and you’ve made a commitment to write, what do you do? Begin. It’s not always a perfect plan or a thoughtful idea. Many days, it’s about observing the commonplace, the nuances, the challenges or the wins. Days like today, it’s about doing it anyway. Whether I feel like it or not, it’s a commitment I’ve made and I will do it. Will…
I read a great article today by behavioral psychologist Elizabeth Weingarten about asking alternative questions to “how are you?” Several people have commented to me in the past week that they find the question “how are you” rote and that people are tuned out to it. That’s not been my experience, as I do believe people respond to the sincerity of how you ask,…
I don’t like the phrase “new normal.” As I’ve talked with people and listened to thoughts about what it means, it sounds like people are seeking some level of certainty amidst all the uncertainty of our world right now. By believing there will be some new homeostasis of “normal” (as if there was a normal prior), it gives people comfort about the future. For me, we didn’t have an…
The illusion of control. One of the gifts of COVID-19 is realizing how little control we have. Prior to having a common enemy (COVID-19), we would each have our challenges with work, family, health, home, relationships and whatever else I’ve omitted. The difference was we would do it asynchronously. I might be having an issue with my team and you are winning…
Have you stepped back to assess all that you’ve accomplished during this crisis? If not, take a minute and write it down for yourself. Share with your team and your family all you’ve done since the crisis impacted you. It’s pretty amazing when you think of all you’ve responded to, all you’ve solved, fought for, rearranged, restructured, created and completed, isn’t it? While you’re busy worrying about all that’s happening now and…
Don’t hurry. There’s goodness happening. You don’t see it? Keep looking. Take your time. What’s emerging? If you could experience what’s happening as a metamorphosis rather than something ending, how would you see it differently? What is good about what’s happening? What are you learning? What will you keep forever in your new reality? What will you never return to? …
How are you leading? It’s a big question these days as we navigate the uncharted waters of COVID-19. Many believe we need to be confident, positive and directive, especially given the amount of change we’re facing daily. It’s a good combination, until it’s not. Sometimes, you are uncertain too. It makes you human. Sometimes, you’re challenged and it’s hard. That…
The experience of riding on a roller coaster seems to sum up many people’s experience for the Spring of 2020. The highs and lows are real, and each person you talk to seems to take their turn with the emotion of the moment. If we can keep our emotions asynchronous, we’ll get through this just fine. The trouble is there’s no guarantee of that…
21 days a habit makes…we’ve all heard it… are we heeding it? As we continue this journey into our COVID-19 world, what are you doing consistently? Do you recognize what this unique timeframe is offering in terms of assessing what is essential, non-essential, beneficial and not worthwhile? In times of volatility, opportunities are abundant, such as: Observing the true character of people Alignment with your core values (or lack of alignment) Recognizing flaws in systems and processes Appreciating the…