I confess, I am a change junkie. Mistakenly, I thought everyone else was a change junkie too. What a mistake.
Right now, unprecedented change is taking place, and many of us are uncomfortable with it. This change is impacting most, if not all, of my clients. One wise senior leader I have the privilege to partner with often looks at challenges through the lens of what he can and cannot control. What sage advice! Every time we speak, he primarily discusses what he can affect, letting go of the many things he cannot. His leadership benefits from this strategy, as does his self-care.
Worth the share
Practical advice can be so helpful. Coping in the Face of Uncertainty and Change by Mary de Groot, PhD., at Indiana University, provides a valuable list, which I have included below. When reflecting on this list, it brings to mind the three skills associated with stress management in emotional intelligence: flexibility, positivity, and stress tolerance.
Here are her tips:
- Ground yourself in a trusted source of truth. In the world of social media, there are a ton of sketchy sources out there. Take the time to vet your sources. Are they credible?
- Stick to the facts. Emotions can derail conversations, especially when they are highly charged. In times of uncertainty, lean into the facts.
- Avoid news overload. This is critical. A former client suffered mood swings because he said he consumed too much news. Now he listens to classical music and is much happier.
- Reading is less emotionally triggering than listening or watching. I have not connected the dots on this, but it is true. Sight, sound, and motion are more memorable and impactful, so of course, they will be more emotionally charged.
- Tune into your needs. Self-care is critically important, especially in times of significant I can’t tell you how often self-care comes up in coaching calls, and how frequently I need to take my own advice!
- Seek out positive emotions. Positivity, one of the skills in stress management, is key because we need to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Make sure you have positive people in your life and that you recognize when you are not thinking positively.
Read the article by Mary de Groot here.
#wisewords
When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves.
–Viktor E. Frankl, Neurologist, Psychologist, Philosopher, and Holocaust Survivor
And Finally...
Last week, I did a workshop with a leadership team on Metrics, AI, and the Power of Humanity. AI is changing our world at an unprecedented speed. This week, Harvard Business Review’s Tip of the Day is “Get On-Demand Career Coaching with AI.”
Surprising? No. Useful? Maybe. I would challenge that while AI can make many tasks easier, the human factor is irreplaceable and more crucial than ever before.
What I most enjoyed about this custom workshop was the emphasis on humanity and the discussion of the importance of genuinely connecting with other humans during this time of unprecedented change. We learned my five-part framework for communicating with others at a deeper level and the skills critical to managing stress. These topics are essential; they are about connection and the gift of being human.
Happy Spring,
Mary Jo