* This month’s post is written by Katie Huey *
Dear Want to Surf,
A therapist once told me to “Be the horizon.”
‘Huh? What the heck does that mean?’
His point was, when standing on a beach, we can choose to look at the never-ending waves rolling in, or we can raise our eyes just a bit, to look out to the horizon. The waves are still there, and yet just above, the line steadies. Where the chaos meets the sky, we can be more stable.
Be the horizon.
Over the last month, our clients have told us about the never-ending waves pummeling their organizations. Staffing issues, low morale, supply chain issues, and continued uncertainty are top of mind for many. Each day, COVID-19 keeps going and people continue to suffer. Some employees have lost family members. Some clients have even lost employees. And the disruption feels like it Just. Won’t. Stop.
Be the horizon.
We are all getting better at short-term adaptation in response to the never ending waves. Many leaders who are still struggling can benefit from exploring how to be stable and centered while empowering others.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself as you plan for the year ahead and step forward into the coming months:
1. What centers me when things feel unstable?
When things feel chronically chaotic, it’s important to tune into what centers you in difficult situations. Think about works for you: Deep breathing, a quick walk outside, or an appropriately channeled venting session with a trusted advisor? Whatever it is, do it.
Before you take on the big waves, it’s helpful to be centered first. Then you can ask yourself…
2. How do I know I am doing my best?
Hard times call for radical compassion for yourself and for others.
Start by saying to yourself, “This is HARD. What do I need, in this moment, to accept that I’m doing my best?”
When you were a kid, it’s likely your parents or teachers encouraged you to “Just do your best.” Somewhere along the way, we got caught up in goals, metrics, and accomplishments that climb ever upward. Continuous improvement can create a sense of continuous inadequacy.
What if instead we saw the continued uncertainty we’re dealing with as an opportunity to step back and ask ourselves: “What does doing my best look like…today?”
Many leaders are rethinking what good looks like, and are refocusing on what they do have control over instead of what they’ve always aimed for. In a recent client session, one leader shared, “Maybe our people are our best investment right now. Even if we can’t make product, we can still care for our people.”
So true. This particular client decided to care for their people by encouraging everyone to creatively explore how they might shift the way they do business and radically improve how they work together as a team. Which brings us to…
3. How can I empower others to do their best, too?
As you adjust your expectations to meet the changing needs of your business, as a leader you also need to help others do the same. Just like you, employees are wondering what’s next as they also pivot and adapt in both their personal and professional lives.
One way to do this is to have a conversation with your leadership team and ask, “What could we adjust right now to help our team members feel and know how their efforts are contributing to our success?” Celebrate small wins and find ways to encourage and acknowledge their hard work.
Yes, the waves will keep coming. Our fingers are crossed that the tides change in 2022, and the surfing becomes more fun.
In the meantime, be the horizon. And let’s set up a conversation to explore how we can help your teams adjust and thrive in the year ahead.
