We all have tough times. For some of us tough times means not having any money in the bank. For some of us tough times means means trying to make ends meet or struggling to put food on the table. For others tough times means you're so behind in school you don't know where to start in order to catch up (Amen!). We may have tough times in the work place or in our personal lives.
The bottom line is that we all have our own definition of tough times and unique ways to cope with them. How you handle tough times is often a true reflection of your character. In order to remain an effective leader in tough times you must have a keen sense of obstacles that lay ahead and the ability to overcome them. The following are a few ways to lead yourself and others through tough times:
Acknowledge the situation. The first thing you must do is acknowledge the situation. The worst thing you can do is run from it and play the blame game. Acknowledge the situation exists and be solution oriented. No one wants to hear excuses or your lame reasons for trying to get out of being accountable. When a problem arises ask yourself this: What are you going to do about it?
Know Yourself. Ask yourself whether you have the skills to do the job you have been entrusted to do? If you are completely honest with yourself you should be able to discern whether you have the capacity to tackle the tasks in front of you. If you have the talents necessary to succeed at the job, it will be far less stressful than if you bite off more than you can chew. If you know yourself and your abilities you are more likely to ask for help before you become overwhelmed.
Listen. Let me say that again LISTEN! When others are trying to talk to you do not become so preoccupied with your own issues that you cannot focus on the task at hand. Everyone has issues, you are not the only one. Do not think your issues are more complicated or more important than anyone else's. Listen to what others are saying around you because they may be telling you the solution to your problem(s). Keep your ears open. Even a fool says something wise every blue moon.
Do not be afraid to ask for help. Unless you work in a dog-eat-dog place where you cannot rely on your co-workers for help without them stabbing you in your back (believe me such places exist) you should not hesitate to ask for help. Sometimes we bring tough times on ourselves because we want to do everything on our own and relish in the glory of our success. This becomes a problem for young professionals because we are eager to prove ourselves. Young professionals are less likely to ask for help because of our desire to stand out from the crowd by taking on and tackling more difficult tasks. Ask for help from someone you trust and who has been in your shoes. When they give you their perspective-Listen!
Never lose sight of the goal in mind. This one should be self explanatory. Keep your eyes on the prize. If you were asked to write a 10 page brief yesterday do not spend your time griping about it, tackle the task and move on. The time you spend focusing on how tough times are is wasted time you will never get back. If the task seems impossible, acknowledge the situation and ask yourself whether you have taken on too much. Do not allow the task at hand to deter you away from your end goal. Take responsibility for what you have committed yourself to but do not lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel.
What do you think? Did I miss anything? Do you have any TIPS you would like to share? Consider the comment section your platform.
Stay focused my friends!
Note: the above key points are excerpted from Kelvin Redd's monthly newsletter "Servant Leadership Today."
No comments:
Post a Comment