Between running a business or having a demanding career, family time, alone time with spouse, volunteering, hobbies, taking a vacation and all other promised commitments.
We get pulled in many different directions, sometimes bringing us to our breaking point. Being overwhelmed can create the appearance that someone wants you to do something for them, and you feel obligated to do it, and you are already overbooked and can’t do one more thing.
What are the signs it is time to say no?
feel stress, anxiety, and panic.
You don’t want to do it.
It is not something you enjoy
You’re the go-to person.
You can’t get what you already promised completed
by the deadline dates.
You feel if you say no to that person, they won’t like you,
or worse, your boss will be disappointed and punish you somehow.
Do any of these statements describe your situation?
If yes, are you ready to start saying no?
Action Steps:
Make a list of all your obligations.
Checkmark the ones you enjoy doing.
Circle the ones you don’t.
The commitments you don’t want, slowly start
removing them from your life.
Take one step at a time and say no to things you don’t have time for or don’t want to do. When you start saying no, it will feel uncomfortable at the start; however, you will be set free to enjoy being you.
Patti and Angela explore leadership in the workplace.
Patti is a Leadership and Work-Life Balance coach specializing in helping Managers and Supervisors. Patti has a monthly mini-podcast called Exploring Life and Work with Patti from Chaos to Calm. This podcast is for you if you are a manager or supervisor who has focused on your career for years and now wants to live a more purposeful and balanced life outside of work. These mini-podcast episodes inspire life and work strategies to maintain sanity within your busy day, from chaos to calm. Patti’s Podcast Exploring Life and Work with Patti from Chaos to Calm tackles issues that affect leaders directly. https://anchor.fm/exploringlifeandwork.
Here some questions to ask yourself and reflect on if you’re in a leadership role or thinking about pursuing a leadership position?
How do you speak to others?
Do you enjoy working with others?
Are you a team player?
Are you willing to be accountable for other people’s actions?
Are you ready to hold yourself responsible for your actions, admit when you are wrong, and apologize when needed?
Are you ready to give honest, constructive feedback to staff members?
Are you dedicated, dependable, trustworthy, ethical, and loyal to your company and employees?
How did you feel after answering these questions?
Being accountable for yourself and others is not something to take lightly. There are times when mistakes happen, and you have to accept the consequences of those mistakes and not blame everyone else around you but take responsibility even when one of your staff members did it. Then, learn from it and move on; believe me, Patti, know this is hard.
We tend to overthink it and beat ourselves up when mistakes happen, but reflecting on what happened as a lesson learned helps ease the process and strengthens relationships with yourself and others.
Leadership is an ongoing process of sometimes making mistakes and learning from those mistakes, and choosing not to make them again.
Reflect back on your working experience with your previous bosses.
During these uncertain and stressful times, more than ever, we need joy in our daily lives. Whether at work or home. A smile can change someone’s day from gloomy to joyful; showing some compassion when a coworker is at their breaking point or providing a little laughter can help everyone get through these unusual circumstances.
A good laugh heals a lot of hurts. — Madeleine L’Engle
What are the benefits of laughter in the workplace?
Laughter can lower stress and boredom, strengthen the immune system, and enhance team engagement, collaboration, creativity, and well-being. It relaxes the body and defuses conflict.
Laughter is the shortest distance between two people. — Victor Borge
Reflections Questions:
How can you brighten someone’s day with a little laughter?
When were some times you and your team laugh at work?
What can you do to encourage laughter in the workplace?
A couple of weeks ago, a friend told me about her work situation and why she decided to give her notice. She brightens up people’s days with her friendly demeanor. She worked in the front lobby. Having a friendly employee as the first contact with your customers is crucial. Customers will continue to come if they feel welcome, the same for employees.
Why do good employees leave?
🦋 A shortage of appreciation, praise, acknowledgment, or recognition from management
🦋 The Manager only pointing out what went wrong
🦋 Lack of trust in employees
🦋 Bad communication – Not sharing important information or changes in company policies
🦋 Unsatisfied relationships with coworkers and/or management
🦋 Employee feeling unchallenged or bored with their work
🦋 The organization culture or the companies vision
🦋 Little growth and no promotional opportunities
🦋 Blatant employee favoritism
🦋 Lack of work-life balance, being over-worked, feeling over-stressed, and having no work boundaries (on duty 24/7)
How can we show up as a better leader and save good employees?
Build a trusting environment. Give opportunities for employees to learn new tasks and give them clear verbal instructions with written procedures. When a situation arises, be truthful. Come up with the right solution together. Acknowledge good work performance. Share policy changes in person and written form. Be open to answering employees’ questions. Care about the job and value staff.
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I have spoken to a lot of people who feel stuck in a dead-end job. When Sunday comes around, they dread thinking about going to work the next morning. On Monday mornings, they hit the snooze button multiple times and force themselves out of bed. They push themselves with positive affirmations or the opposite with “I hate my job” self-talk on the way to work.
🦋 Do you feel like you could do your job in your sleep?
🦋 Are there no advancement opportunities where you work?
🦋 Do you feel hateful and resentful when you walk through your workplace?
🦋 Do you get any acknowledgment for a job well done?
Well, here are some questions below to ask yourself. Answer them with the first reaction you have.
🦋 Am I learning any new aspects in my position?
🦋 Are my job duties challenging to me?
🦋 Do I enjoy going to work every day?
🦋 Am I motivated and strive to increase my productivity level?
🦋 Do I feel I am making a difference?
🦋 Are my coworkers positive at work?
🦋 Am I positive at work?
If you answered no to these questions, you might be feeling stuck in a dead-end job.
What are some options to improve my career situation?
Create a Career Journal to track your career goals, action steps, certifications, accomplishments, achievements, and references all in one area.
Making or adding to your career journal is a great way to be organized and refocus on your career path.
What’s in a Career Journal:
Career goals and ideas
Keep track of career progress
Lessons learned
Coaching strategies
Advice from mentors
A private place to vent career disappointments
Keep positive affirmations and quotes
Gain a new perspective
Resume, cover letters, interview tips, interview questions, thank you notes, recommendations, references, and certifications
Mission statement and values
Develop a career action plan
Keep motivated and inspired
To celebrate the small successes
How to Get Started:
Get a large binder; put all your career paperwork and ideas into it
Then decide if you want to put all your information into a computer document, on-line journal, a book journal, or a binder
Organize by categories
Add to your career journal regularly
Please keep it in a secure place
Self-Reflection Questions for Career Journal:
What did I learn?
What did I accomplish?
Did I receive any compliments? If so, what was it, and who said it?
How did I make a difference?
Did I have any setbacks, and how did it affect me?
How can I change my situation and get new career opportunities?
Where should I start networking to meet new people and look for better job opportunities?
What to consider:
Should I stay at my current employment or move on?
Make a list of “why to stay” and “why to go.” Be upfront and honest. No holding back from the truth of the matter!
What’s keeping me here?
Are there other options?
If, so what are they?
A Transfer within the company?
Start job hunting?
Hire a career coach?
Go back to school and learn something new?
Retirement?
After making and reviewing the list to “stay or go.”What did this list tell you?
Take Away:
Don’t stay in a job where there is no opportunity for advancement. Leap of faith and try something different. You will have a career purpose with meaning again. Whatever decision you make to either stay or go, having a career journal will keep you organized and focused on your career goals and prepare you for the next career opportunity. ~ Patti
Comments are always welcome.
Please share this blog post with your colleagues, friends, and family on all your social networks!
This course is for leaders who are crazy busy, working 24/7 and want something more in their life. 7 easy hacks to create some personal life balance in this so-called busy life!
In honor of President’s Day, I am going to discuss two former U.S. President’s, Washington and Lincoln, and according to history they were two of the greatest known leaders. Let’s find out why!
Washington’s leadership style:
George Washington had the gift of silence. He knew when to speak and when not to engage in conversation with those who didn’t appreciate him or what he did. He had dignity, integrity and didn’t complain. He gathered information quickly before making important decisions. Washington set aside his differences and resolved disputes by focusing on the goal. He was known for giving basic directions to his commanders and let them make their own strategic decisions.
Quotes from George Washington:
Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. ~ George Washington
Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience. ~ George Washington
It is better to be alone than in bad company. ~ George Washington
Lincoln’s leadership style:
Lincoln was a great listener and people were free to oppose his point of view without fear. He was good communicator and had a clear vision of what he wanted to accomplish. He was a storyteller, had a good sense of humor, and had a way of diffusing tense situations. Lincoln was humble, descent, kind, compassionate, honest and motivated others. He had a calm demeanor and when angry he would write letters to the person he was angry with, to get out all emotion, and then he would put the letter aside.
Quotes from Abraham Lincoln:
Courage is not the absence of fear. It is going forward with the face of fear. ~ Abraham Lincoln
Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. ~ Abraham Lincoln
Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. ~ Abraham Lincoln
Don’t worry when you are not recognize, but strive to worthy of recognition. ~ Abraham Lincoln
The most common characteristics that both Washington and Lincoln had both were good listeners, good communicators and had the ability to diffuse confrontation situations.
Question:
What qualities do you think makes a great leader?
Comments are always welcome and please share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks!
What is a good leader? How does a good leader create leaders in others? Those are great questions to ponder.
What is a good leader to me?
A good leader listens even when they don’t agree and has the ability to explain their outlook and why. Has a talented way to give constructive feedback without deflating the employee. Hold others accountable for their actions and hold themselves accountable, as well.
The ability to communicate the strategic plan and goals for the future of the team. Motivate and encourage team members to obtain these goals with leadership and team building skills.
A good leader is trustworthy, honest, ethical, loyal, dedicated and dependable. They coach, mentor and respect their employees and want them to succeed within their organization. They are upfront about difficult uncomfortable situations and the subordinates are not guessing or assuming what they really meant. These are a few traits I believe makes a good leader.
How does a good leader create leaders in others?
A good leader meets with their employees one on one to discuss personal development. The supervisor and staff member create an action plan with goals and training courses. Through coaching, mentoring, a career development plan and leading with a proven successful manner, the employee will be on a career path of purpose. It is up to the individual to pursue their dreams and aspirations to be a good leader. Don’t underestimate the importance of having a good coach, leader or person in your life to assist you along the way. Having a good leader to follow is priceless. Just think, what possibilities could be in the workplace if everyone was a good leader. ~ Patti
Please feel free to share your comments below in “Leave a Reply”.
To contact me for a private confidential discovery leadership coaching session. Fill out the contact form below. In the comment section specify you would like a free 30 minute discovery leadership session.
Coaching sessions can be conducted in various methods.
As Leaders each day we push ourselves to get more completed and do more. We continually are working on the big picture or the next great thing. We over work and are constantly thinking about work however there comes a time to stop and live in the moment. To spend time with family, friends, spouse/partner and really give them our full attention without focusing and thinking of work.
How do we do this?
When should we do this?
How often should we do this?
The answer: What is really important to you? Reflect on these questions and is it time to realize we need our family, friends, our spouse/partner in our lives. They keep us balanced, grateful and loved.
Usually it is for them that we work so hard but they also require our loving attention as well. It could be showing up to a ball game for our kids. A date night with our spouse. Taking our parents out to lunch or shopping. Sending a text to a friend thinking of you. Or just listening and talking about the little things. This is what matters. Make it a point to do the little things to keep relationships alive.
Life is more than work, it is about living a good meaningful life. Take an adventure. Put time and effort into relationships like you do with work. You will probably be happier and so will your friendships, family, work life and YOU!
TM
To contact me for a private confidential discovery leadership coaching session. Fill out the contact form below. In the comment section specify you would like a free 30 minute discovery leadership session.
Coaching sessions can be conducted in various methods.
