These are unprecedented times. Most likely, you have never gone through something like this before. You don’t know what you don’t know....and 2021 is very uncertain!
It makes it increasingly important that while we look after the safety and health of our families (including our work teams), we also continue to look after our own well being - it’s no longer a luxury, but a necessity. With the pandemic continuing much longer than we could ever anticipated, it can be challenging to keep it all going. I understand and my heart is with you.
In the midst of all this, I feel optimistic that we will come through this stronger and reconnected to the important things in life in even greater ways.
For now, I wanted to give you a different perspective.
While the natural tendency might be to panic or be consumed by fear. It’s never been more important that you keep moving forward.... intentionally
This too shall pass - eventually. In the meantime, everyone is finding their new rhythms with how to go about their days and lives within the current global situation. When it passes, we will emerge on the other side. If you don’t pay attention now, you could come out the other side in dire straits and be worse off.
As people-centred leaders, we must become more resilient and agile.
As we navigate through this difficult time, I’d like you to think about three simple actions to take.
1. Stay Connected; Don’t Isolate.
I know that sounds weird now when we’re in a time of social distancing. Even while being apart, you can still stay connected. Being in a community of like-minded people will help you minimize the overwhelm from the negative posts running rampid on social media. They can be a beacon of hope and possibility so you can maintain your focus on what really matters in your life.
Bonding, belonging, identity and meaningful contribution are all essential for safety within a group, for efficient functioning in a system. The four needs are being developed and nourished throughout human development in a sequential fashion, to ensure the group stay alive, survive and thrive. Since these needs are so important for human survival, the brain unconsciously uses these needs as part of the criteria to assign a value to any incoming cue.
2. Seek Guidance from Mentors & Trusted Confidants
These are unprecedented times. Most likely, you’ve never gone through something like this before. You don’t know what you don’t know. But mentors, coaches, and other leaders in your life, like myself, can provide framework and guidance to help you navigate each step.
Did you know that in times of crisis, you will only feel about 65% certain about the decisions you’ll make? That’s just one of the reasons to lean into resources such as myself. When your self-doubt is increasing, I can support you to keep moving forward intentionally in ways that are right for you and those looking up to you for guidance..
If there is a lack of clarity or transparency, the team won’t know what strategic direction to take the process into, so agile leaders need to be the ones to step in with boundaries. The important thing here is to communicate clearly and lead by example. Being a good agile leader means finding the balance between not being too restrictive with the boundaries and giving their teams enough freedom. It’s important to show confidence in the team and promote psychological security.
3. Identify Challenges - and Solve Them
As this pandemic continues to unfold and we begin to emerge out the other side, there will be new challenges you encounter every day. Unprecedented times require innovative responses.
In neuroscience, collective creativity is defined as the ability of a group to solve problems and fashion novel products that are adaptive for the survival and thriving of the group. For the individuals that are part of a collectively creative group, chronic stress is reduced at the level of the amygdala and hypothalamus. At the same time, collective creativity also enhances individual problem-solving ability by putting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in control.
If there was ever a time when you need guidance and a community of like-minded people, this is it. I am here for you. I encourage you to stay really connected to your masterminds, coaches, and mentors.
Over the past 20 odd years, as you know, I have been involved in Human Resources. One of the reasons I’ve loved doing that is because I believe We are all unique and have our own special place in the puzzle of the universe.
I’ve learned that new way for me to support people finding their uniqueness to an even greater degree is through coaching and supporting people-centred leaders.
I’m happy to announce that I’m actually starting my own coaching business; in fact, I’ve already begun.
I’m so excited about this new opportunity. I have to admit I’m a bit nervous about starting my new business, but I know that with how I’m getting prepared in advance and strategically focusing my efforts, I will be able to make a big impact in this world doing the work that I absolutely love.
If you’d love to grab coffee sometime, I’d love to discuss how I can support you as a people-centred leader on this unique, unusual and unprecedented path that we’ve all found ourselves on.
Wanna grab coffee?Click here and let’s get together: https://www.coachsohum.com/contact
Sincerely
JOYce
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