10 minute read
Reach for the Best Version of You
14 The Financial Manager • January/February 2021
It’s easy to feel trapped or static during these unusual times. But there are actionable ways to get out of a personal or professional rut.
BY LORI BROOKS
HAVE YOU HEARD YOURSELF THINKING OR SAYING, “EXCEPT FOR COVID”? IT might seem like the number of things that you could have done, or would be doing, are astronomical, except for, you know, the pandemic.
Yet even though our lives have been dramatically upended, there are ways to progress, so that 2021 isn’t another “wasted” year, during which we track the months, waiting until it is over. We can continue to grow personally and professionally, even though many organizations are trying to figure out when to re-open their offices – or changing their approach to working from home and flexible hours.
This brings to mind some advice that I received as a new mother. I was told that I had to take care of myself before taking care of the baby. This is absolutely true for everyone. Before we can be our best for our families, friends and co-workers, we need to be our best self, for our self. This isn’t selfish; it involves appropriately prioritizing your time to find space and clarity.
This focus on self is essential. We hear a lot about the importance of leadership – how we need to be better at it, how some people are born with leadership skills and some are not.
But what does leadership really mean? A simplified definition is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal. But how can you motivate someone else if you aren’t sure what is motivating you?
The concept seems so simple: if you have clarity about your priorities, your goals, your aim, then you can lead others toward a common objective.
GET YOUR MIND RIGHT
In order to start down that path, you first must focus on your mindset – the ideas and attitudes you have when approaching a situation. It affects our word choice, our tone and enthusiasm (or lack thereof).
A few years ago, I was very fortunate to take a trip with my leadership team. As we were canyoneering and repelling to and from places that I never thought I would go, our guide told us a story about gratitude. It goes something like this:
Mother to 10-year-old son: “Please take out the trash.”
Boy: “Aww, mom, do I HAVE to?”
Mom: “No, you GET to! You get to take out the trash today. Think about children who live in a society that does not have a sanitation system or children who are handicapped and never have the opportunity to get up and walk to the curb and back. You are fortunate and should be grateful for what you have and what you get to do.”
Now, I don’t take out the trash in my household; my husband is in charge of garbage removal. (Whew!) But it is a humbling story that I think about often as I grumble at a task I don’t enjoy, and it puts me in check. It is an amazing example that mindset impacts what we do and how we show up to do it.
A lot has been written about mindsets. And while definitions and categories are all over the map, I’ve found it helpful to consider four different mindsets that follow along a continuum from fixed to growth: FAILURE — People stuck in this rut are not willing to change. They feel sorry for themselves. “Why do I have to be in charge of that report? Why can’t someone else do it?” FRUSTRATION – It’s hard to figure out how to help yourself, so feelings of scarcity and
anxiety take over. “That report is a waste of my time. I can’t get anything else done!”
CONVENTIONAL SUCCESS — There’s no sense that anything can be better, and no reason to change the status quo. “Yep, I do the report every Tuesday, and that is what I am going to keep doing.” TRANSFORMATION — People in this mindset are always looking to change, learn and grow. They have feelings of abundancy. “How can I make this report better? How can I be more efficient when I prepare or ensure the information is more useful to my boss?
Mindsets are important because they ooze into what we do and how we do it. We need to have an awareness of our thought patterns. It not only impacts our own progress, but the progress of our team members and co-workers.
When we hold the metaphorical mirror up and really look at ourselves, we can see how we’re perceived by others, and if our attitude is impeding progress or propelling it. It should also be easy to recognize whether or not we are demonstrating leadership qualities that will help motivate and inspire ourselves and others.
Needless to say, mindsets change frequently. It’s unrealistic to believe we will never be frustrated. But how long do you sit and allow yourself to feel that way? How long until you make a change?
You can also have a different mindset at any given time for different areas of your life. You might be transformative in your health and excited and inspired with a new diet and exercise routine. At the same time, you could be in a fixed mindset as it relates to your career if you haven’t seen the progression you desire.
Everyday there is an opportunity to examine our mindset and narrow our focus to what is holding us back or why we feel and act a certain way.
WRITE. IT. DOWN.
There is a reason why “to do” lists work. You write something down; you look at it; you hold yourself accountable; you complete a task; and you cross it off!
We should write down more of our goals on a regular basis. I don’t mean type them up and submit them because our company requires annual goals in our HR system. Instead, we should think about the areas of our life that we really want to change and grow. When we physically write down goals and objectives they are no longer just floating around in our head. It is real and legit, and we better do something about it!
Is your pen and paper out? Now what? CATEGORIES — List your personal goals (health, financial, spiritual) and professional
THINK. YES, JUST THINK!
THERE ARE TONS OF ARTICLES ABOUT ACCOMPLISHED ENTREPRENEURS AND billionaires that give themselves time to sit and think. No distractions by phone, email, television or people. Sounds heavenly.
How often do we really give ourselves the time to feel, reflect and plan? When we do this, it allows us to recognize highs, lows and next steps. Use that reflective time to re-visit goals on a regular basis.
If it is hard to find 10 minutes a day, then what about 10 minutes a week? When you give yourself the gift of time, what comes to mind? ■ Are you angry that you haven’t made more progress in a certain area? Then what is holding you back? ■ Are you excited because you are halfway to a goal you set for yourself? How does that feel? ■ What are you doing that is really working? How do you leverage that habit or action to other goals and objectives? ■ What is the one thing you need to do today to achieve success in the next 12 months? ■ What would 2020 have been like for you, except for COVID? Would you have earned or saved more money? Exercised more? Taken a trip?
Imagine your much-anticipated trip to France was cancelled. Rather than sitting back frustrated, perhaps you’ll realize that having additional time will be beneficial. You can study up on more history, so you are even more well-versed in your sightseeing and able to really soak in the experiences and surroundings. Or you can save a few more dollars and extend the trip to visit a few Bordeaux wineries. Or you can spend time learning French so you can order Coq au Vin and Boeuf Bourguignon like a true Parisian.
Instead of focusing on what we unable to do, expand to what will be possible when it is safe to travel again. Take a few minutes to think about what 2020 could have offered. In the reflection time, do not stop with what did not happen; think about what possibility still awaits you.
goals (career progression, certifications, upcoming deadlines, team focused). There needs to be a balance; if our goals are all personal, then our career and organizations will be negatively impacted. Conversely, if our goals are all focused on work, our personal life suffers, and we get burned out, lack motivation and do not feel fulfilled. YOUR “WHY” — Write down a short note next to each goal concerning why it is important to you. If there is not a why that evokes passion for you, the goal will not be a top priority, and it will likely go unmet. TIME FRAME — Give yourself a deadline to achieve something measurable. If it’s a shortterm goal, make sure it’s a little time nugget that is attainable and that will give you momentum. Mid-term goals involve one to three years and long-term goals are generally five to 10 years. Are your short and mid-term goals aligned to your long-term goals?
Saving money is an easy example: You might have a short, 90-day goal to stop frivolous spending and save $100 a month. In a mid-term time frame, you might aim to pay off all outstanding non-mortgage debt. And over the long-term, you might meet a savings goal.
The thoughtful and attainable short-term goal gives you energy towards the next milestone. If you don’t have $300 extra dollars after 90 days, then your savings plan isn’t working, and you’ll need to reassess it.
How important is this goal (the “why”)? How far off-track were you? Oh, and since we know mindset is so important – what was your mindset? Were you frustrated that you didn’t save, or can you celebrate that you have
$150 extra dollars? Can you skip those $5 espressos each day to make up the difference? When goals are reviewed on a regular basis and there is not any progress, it is obvious it is not a top priority. Try to identify what’s holding you back. Maybe there are adjustments to actions or habits that will help you stay focused and realize the goals you desire. HOW TO ACT — Identify the ways you can accomplish your goals. Get creative. Ask someone else for their advice – a friend or mentor who wants to help you (just like you would want to help them).
Brainstorm ways to continue to make progress. There’s loads of inspiring content available on LinkedIn Learning, TedTalks and Harvard ManageMentor.
Carol Dweck has a book called Mindset as well as videos on YouTube that are informative. And I also recommend Atomic Habits by James Clear. It is a great read on changes that can be made to help achieve desired results.
Maybe it is the Texan in me, but I fully believe you have the ability to take your life by the horns. While there so much uncertainty in this unprecedented period, consider it an opportunity to reflect, plan and take control of – stay with me here – your own life, despite COVID.
Lori Brooks is a director at The Siegfried Group, LLP, an accounting and leadership advisory firm. She can be reached at 404-772-7458 or LBrooks@siegfriedgroup.com.
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