How to be Positive When it Seems Bad

Lately, it seems that there is negativity in the news, negativity in the economy and negativity in the work environment. I turn on the T.V. or open a website and unemployment is up, people losing homes are at an astronomical rate and the stock market is down. When things are bad, it has a domino effect. It has a tendency to be discouraging, but this is the time when true leadership is needed and is demonstrated.

• Believe that it is temporary. Be the person showing the beacon of hope to those who are going down the path in the dark. It will not always be bad and people need to understand that things will get better and that it is a temporary situation.
• Take time out to have fun. When stress levels are at an all time high, blow off steam. Treat yourself or the team you manage to a movie, a lunch or a few minutes away from the work setting. People will feel relieved and will be more productive in the end.
• Surround yourself with positivity. It’s like osmosis. You become or are, at least, influenced by what you surround yourself with. For some it’s the mission statement, for others it is a beach setting in the Caribbean or their family. Put up pictures and reminders of whatever makes you feel like you can make it through the day. Reflect on those pictures when you are challenged to be positive.
• Start the day off with a positive mission statement. Take it day by day. I sometimes set a small goal: Today I will be productive and complete this said effort XX. Something else that’s motivating is to sign up for a daily inspirational website that can jump start your day.
• Challenge yourself to think positive when it seems difficult. Anyone who has competed in a sporting event knows that you can be physically tested, stretched and sore. This can happen mentally as well. Apply your determination in sports to your mental state. The key is never to give up. It is true that the harder you work for it, the sweeter the rewards.

Fighting Fires or Preventing the Flames

Ever feel like you put out fires all day? That if you just had enough resources or time, you could devote more of your time to much needed planning?  The reality in these tough economic times is that it is unlikely to get additional resources and you can never get more time. But don’t give up. There are ways to stay motivated and plan through evaluation of effort and prioritization.

• Evaluate your current workload. Are there some tasks that you are performing that can be deferred or delegated? For example, I had an someone in my office who used to spend an extensive amount of time on every detail. Good in an accounting office, but not good for every situation. Some situations could be resolved with less effort, but it wasn’t until I clearly identified what her responsibilities were versus what she wasn’t responsible for. Do this same thing for yourself and guard your limited time. Sometimes we take on more than we really should be doing because we are spending so much time in the weeds.
• Write out a list of issues, problems and patterns that you would like to see operate differently, efficiently or effectively. Determine which of these that you can influence or control and establish a game plan. If you are time constrained, do this in small stages. Maybe focus on one issue a day or a week, or even a month, depending upon the complexity.
• Understand the problem before you come up with a solution and try to think of more than one solution. Sometimes it’s helpful to brainstorm and people brainstorm differently. I like writing things out and visibly seeing it on paper. Sort of like a fishbone diagram to make sure the focus is on the root cause and not a symptom of the problem.
• Involve the appropriate parties and do not operate in a vacuum. If this problem involves other people or other functional areas, include them in the solution. Let them know what you’ve observed, what you would like to see happen and involve them in the how to get there portion, since you will most likely need them to help you achieve your desired outcome. Sometimes the best way to do this is to show them how the problem and solution impact them.
• Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. Be an advocate for the agreed upon solution and be persistent to ensure that it consistently being done. Tell people of the success stories as a result of their direct input into the problem solving. Praise those to others than are executing the solution.

Nip it in the bud and move on to the next problem. There are no more hours in a day, just a different way to manage the work that we have in those hours. The sooner you focus on a problem and are proactively resolving it, the more time you will have later. That upfront investment could have a return of requiring less of your time later.

Overcoming Exhaustion

In a time when we are asked to do more with less, it is difficult to maintain our energy levels. So much is expected and support may be limited, leaving us to deal with the fact that we are overstretched, tired and flat out exhausted.

Here are some ways to help overcome exhaustion:

• Exercise. 30 minutes a day will limit the stress from going astray. Exercise helps to increase energy. Find out what time works best for you. Some are better in the morning, some mid-day some in the evening. Make time for at least 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise. Every time you make an excuse not to do it, you are reducing your energy levels. It hardly makes sense, but it’s true and scientific.
• Know when to take breaks. In a time where the expectation is exceedingly high at times, it is important to address what your limitations are. Taking a break is okay and natural.
• Do not overwork yourself. The majority of people are extremely productive by nature. It is important to not overwork yourself. In previous articles, I have recommended not working more than 10 hours a day to prevent exhaustion and to ensure that other areas in life are getting attention.
• Eat regularly and healthy. Food is fuel. Eating regularly keeps energy levels optimized. Eating healthy ensures that the fuel is premium. It is recommended to eat six small meals a day in order to maintain energy levels. Eating large meals makes people feel sluggish and slower, therefore reducing energy levels.
• Get plenty of sleep. Getting at least 7-8 hours a day is critical. It is scientifically proven. Getting less than 4-6 hours of sleep increases the heart attack rate by at least 30%. In women, this is the number one killer.
• Find your balance. Life is not just about work. Make sure that you are balancing the other important aspect in your life. If not, your happiness will not be balanced.
• Ask for help. There is nothing wrong with this statement. Many people work themselves too hard and not too smart. There is help out there and there are people who can help. Ask the question. People tend to want to help.

Creating an Effective Life Plan

Creating a life plan is key in remaining focused on the direction you would like to take in life.  There are several key elements to creating a life plan.

• What is important to you? Is it a job, is it a family, is it education, status? Write down what is important to you for you to be happy in life.
• Who is important to you? Write down a list of people who are important to you. Your spouse, your parents, your friends, etc.
• How do you want the important people to in your life to remember you when you are not around? Next to each person, write down what you want them to remember about you when you are not around.
• Compare yourself to how you want to be remembered versus where you think you are.
• What do you want to have accomplished in one year, five years, ten years or even twenty years? Setting goals ensures that there is a set of milestones. It’s up to you to create the path to get there.
• Break your goals into smaller steps to celebrate small victories along the way. I like to write down my goals and then create a little “how to” plan to get there. For example, I would like to get a degree. To get there, I plan to attend two courses a semester until I achieve my goal. This means, I will achieve my goal in XX years or by XX date.
•  Continue to evaluate your plan. No plans are set in stone. If your goals in life change, make your plan flexible to change with it. After all, it’s your life.

Climbing the Ladder

Getting promoted is competitive and can separate you from the herd. I can remember when I was starting out in an assistant position; I had many friends. As I started to work my way up, I started to feel disconnected from some of those friends. Not intentionally, but because some of those people started to separate themselves and in turn, I felt isolated. Sounds pretty bad, but this can happen. The key is not to let this bring you down. Here are some things I’ve learned that has helped me climb the ladder.

• Never, ever let a situation or person cause you to become negative. Positive thinking is absolutely critical among great leaders, no matter the situation. There will come a time where you are alone in your approach and others are seeking guidance and leadership. Your attitude will define you in these situations. Always, and I mean always, be positive in your attitude and approach to these situations.
• Acknowledge the hurdle. You can be positive, but you also must be realistic in your thinking. Situations will be tough and require you to be on the same wave length with your team. To do so, you must acknowledge that it may not be easy to overcome, but it will be overcome.
• Have a Champion Mentality. What do I mean by this? People may feel like they are running a race. It is up to you to help them celebrate small successes along the way. Anyone who has run a mile knows that you think about the quarters. There are four quarters in a mile. Celebrate the quarter, even though you have a mile to run.
• Position Yourself. This may be through training or through education. I read biographies of positions I envisioned myself in one day. I reviewed what those people did to get into those positions; their training, their education, their work experience. Do what it takes to make your resume look like theirs.
• Take risks. This may be hard for those who have attachments. Take risks whenever possible. It is difficult for people to be outside of their comfort zone. Many cannot and choose to not do this. Being outside of your comfort zone will help you be well-rounded. Taking risks shows that you are willing to do what it takes to be successful.
  

Keeping the Flame Alive

How do you keep the love going in tough times? I've been happily married for several years and it is wonderful. Here are some things that I've noticed that has helped along the way.

• Remember your commitment to each other. In the days where the divorce rate is greater than 50%, people are not taking this commitment as seriously as they should. Marriage is a serious commitment that requires you to continually think about yourself and your relationship with another person. Not doing either will result in failure.


• Your way isn't the only way. Compromise is key. I am very much an A type personality-which equates to sometimes stubborn, to my husband, and confident, to me. He is very much a B type personality which equates to sometimes a push over, to me, and laid back, to him. Every situation is different and requires a different approach. Both have different styles and both have their importance.


• Figure out what you appreciate in each other. At times, in our approach to situations, my husband and I are polar opposites. What I've learned is that he is good at smoothing people over and I'm good at getting things done. I could do better at the people side. He could do better at the task side. We balance each others' weaknesses. I watch and learn from him. He does the same.


• Find out what you can do to advance the relationship. As people grow and mature, so do their relationships. The key is growing together. My husband and I have our own different hobbies, but we give each other room to grow as individuals and then connect back together. You have to be able to do both.


• You're not always going to agree and that's okay. What really matters is the core beliefs that you both share together. My husband and I have discussed different issues and debated them at length. In the end, we still have our differing viewpoints. That is absolutely okay. Respect the fact that you love someone who may not see things the same way you do.

Have fun with each other. Don't always be so serious. Life is demanding. Time at home should be a SHORT period of venting at the end of the day and the rest spending time appreciating each other. After all that's really what it's all about anyway.

Leadership: Guiding versus Controlling

Having worked in both an innovative environment and a controlling environment, I have observed and practiced varying leadership styles. People manage differently. Allow me to share my story in a couple of situations.

I spent the first few years of my career working for the federal government in the financial and budgeting arena. Most things are rigid. There is a way to do things and there are people who believe in complete structure. There are regulations, policies, extensive training; even a regulation on how to write regulations. This is no joke and it makes sense. I mean, I worked for the military side. Structure is absolutely necessary. Without structure, it is not uniform. Without uniformity, it is unmanageable. You do what you are told and that is the way it is; no debate. Leadership is driven by rank. Sounds harsh, but that is how soldiers are trained. Those who work to support soldiers are not immune to those that manage this way of thinking.

After doing this for 5 years or so, I decided to take a shot in the commercial sector. I worked for a small, niche, innovative company that specialized in advanced composite fabrication and experimental aircraft design and development. I was hired as a program business manager. I knew nothing about engineering, fabrication, composites; even managing in this environment. I remember my first few months; not knowing if I was doing the right thing or if I was doing the wrong thing. It was awkward and at times I felt lost. I mean, I worked for someone, but I rarely saw this person. I was just kind of put in an environment and had to figure out what I was supposed to do; the complete opposite of an established position description. It’s like defining the position. Sounds great, but it can be stressful. Especially, if you are going through it for the first time. After a year, I gathered that this company focused on results. They weren’t going to tell you “how” to do something. This is what they hired you for. There was this broad brushed goal and everything else was up to you and the team.

After a few years, I had the privilege of managing a team that successfully accomplished a major milestone for the program. We experienced record growth; going from 120 employees to 330 employees in a three-year period and had been bought by a major aerospace company. What a ride.

I met a few of the new employees and remember hearing them say after a few weeks they didn’t know if what they were doing was right or wrong. I could so relate, but told them that they should continue what they were doing and it would all fall into place. I realized that the management philosophy was to allow people to learn and be good at what they do. There was no one way to do something. There is room for great success and room for great failure in this environment. Leadership was good at keeping the pulse of things so that if there was failure it wasn’t a detriment to the company. People were motivated. They “owned” what they were doing.

I will not debate the necessity of either leadership style. They both have a purpose in their environments. I will say that having been in both situations, I have seen and appreciate the value of allowing people to figure things out on their own. What matters are the results.