‘Tis the season of holiday joy, traditions, and . . . people problems. Even without the shadow of COVID-19, this time of year can be difficult to navigate. What gifts are we buying and will they arrive on time? Is curbside pick-up a better option? How do I take time off when working remotely and my computer is always there? How can I make sure my Christmas morning isn’t like the one in this SNL sketch?
Recently, an executive coaching client (let’s call him Bill) shared that meetings with his direct reports weren’t feeling effective, even though he has the courage to say what’s needed. And, he feels confident he’s approaching the conversations with compassion.
“I feel good in the meeting,” he told me. “But afterwards, things seem to fall apart. The actions we agreed to don’t happen, and then I don’t know how to bring it up again. I thought we were on the same page.”
I spoke to a client last week who was overwhelmed at the thought of Thanksgiving this year. She usually hosts family from both sides—with more than thirty people over! But this year, it’s just going to be her partner and two kids.
She has no second thoughts about not having family over. While it’s hard, she knows it’s the best option in a difficult situation. So what’s the problem?
There is no prize for being the busiest gal around, but we all seem to be competing for it anyway. And even if we aren’t trying to be busy, it seems to happen anyway. If only losing weight were that easy!
When I open up my calendar to see what’s happening in the next few days, I know how I feel when it’s back to back meetings and presentations for days on end. But there are a few things I’ve done to make sure what’s important to me gets on there as well. [Read more…]
Ever since I got back from vacation I feel like life has been in fast forward. I was trying to catch up on email, get ready for our new leadership series, and manage a busy client schedule. On top of that, we had to get back to school and get the girls into a new routine, which comes with lots of forms, carpooling, and meetings. I feel like I haven’t even tapped the brakes, let alone come to a complete stop, in weeks.
But the other day at Target I missed a chance to pause, and I regret it. It was a great reminder that even when life feels crazy we have time to take a minute and be a more thoughtful human. Check out the video to hear about my not so thoughtful moment!
It’s great to remember that other people around you are feeling stressed too. So I try not to be too busy to help. The moment will come when you need help in return, so go ahead and build up some goodwill. Make someone’s day by taking time to congratulate them on a job well done. Make a presentation for your colleague whose kid fell prey to the back to school cold, or pause your own work to help set up for an event or help a co-worker meet a tough deadline.
These thoughtful pauses can make all the difference!
