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There is no such thing as common sense.
It’s a phrase that’s been uttered by politicians and medical experts repeatedly over the last nine weeks in relation to community behaviour and our response to COVID-19.
“Use common sense”, they tell us.
“It’s basic common sense”, they say.
Every time I hear it, I cringe.
Why?
Because common sense is not common.
read more…Don’t assume that all requests of you are urgent.
Too often we assume a request from a colleague, or task allocated by our boss must be actioned immediately, without question.
We drop whatever we were working on and get started on the new request straight away.
This reactive, rather than responsive approach is a sure-fire path to stress and overwhelm.
Our to-do list grows, our distraction levels are high, and our days are filled with ‘busy work’.
read more…The Stockdale Paradox: Why both optimism and realism are essential for success
The Stockdale Paradox: It’s the ability to balance optimism with realism to get through tough times when the future is uncertain.
It’s a concept that is very relevant now and builds on the work of Viktor Frankl, the World War II Holocaust survivor who spoke of the power of choosing your response to life’s challenges.
James Stockdale was the highest-ranking US military officer held captive in the infamous ‘Hanoi Hilton’ POW camp during the Vietnam War.
He was imprisoned for almost eight years and repeatedly tortured.
read more…Two key questions to help you self-manage under stress
Who are you?
Who do you want to be?
Two big questions and your answers will help you navigate through this time of stress and uncertainty.
Who are you? How are you travelling right now? What are your values? Are you living in alignment with them under pressure?
Be as honest as you can be with your answers – not so you can beat yourself up, but so you can own where you’re at. It’s about self-awareness. You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge.
read more…Lead with warmth
One of the best communication and leadership tips I can give you to help navigate this crazy time is this: Lead with warmth.
One of the best communication and leadership tips I can give you to help navigate this crazy time is this: Lead with warmth.
By warmth, I mean kindness, compassion and empathy.
Why?
Because warmth conveys our underlying intention.
It shows the people receiving our communication that we care about them and have their interests at heart – even if the message we’re delivering is difficult to hear.
At times of crisis, leaders must be visible
Leaders! Now is not the time to go to ground; it’s the time to stand up and be seen.
“But I don’t have anything new to tell people,” you might think. “I don’t know what to say.”
No worries – tell your people that!
At times of crisis, uncertainty, challenge and change, you need to be seen. You must communicate early and communicate often.
Show empathy, compassion, calm and care.
read more…Remember to breathe
Breathe…
Don’t underestimate the power of breath for helping you manage your emotions, nerves and stress levels under pressure.
In my training, I teach two breathing techniques that I practice myself.
The first is tactical breathing. It’s where you take a big deep breath in through your nose and then release it from your mouth in a steady rush, blowing out your cheeks (don’t do this in someone’s face!).
read more…Soft skills get us through hard times
If ever there’s a time we need the skills to communicate under pressure, have difficult conversations, and manage ourselves at times of stress – it’s now.
It’s the so-called ‘soft skills’ – the people bit – that will get us through.
Over the coming weeks, I’ll share tips to help you manage you and communicate with others during this crazy time.
I am also now offering my services both face-to-face (for the time being) and online.
read more…Start with what you DON’T want
January. A time when many people set goals for what they want to achieve in the year ahead.
Exciting for some. Totally overwhelming for others.
What do you want to achieve in 2020? What’s your goal? Where do you see yourself in 12 months’ time? What does success mean for you? What’s your dream job?
All great questions but they’re big and can be scary as hell.
Compliments are a gift: How do you receive them?
What do you do when someone gives you a compliment?
Do you dismiss it?
“Oh, I was just doing my job.” “It was nothing.” “No, big deal.”
Deflect?
“Everyone else worked way harder than me.”
Or reject it outright and use the opportunity to talk yourself down?
“Don’t lie, I was crap.”
read more…Soft is the new hard
How to Communicate Effectively Under Pressure
leah@leahmether.com.au | 0409 938 277
