One Grip At A Time
As every single one of us in this humanity, I have experienced challenge: Both on a personal level and a professional level; everywhere from the daily grind to the unexpected and unwanted conflicts with family, peers, and leaders. I’ve also had the opportunity to mediate and help resolve others' challenges that at first glance seemed irremediable.
The secret to overcoming or even surviving through these moments is learning how to rise from them, and it begins with perspective. Which side of the lens am I looking through? Am I blinded by anger and frustration, or am I seeking the light and the lesson that secretly lurks beneath the surface?
Daily grind challenges
Starting the day with a carefully crafted plan, only to have it crumble within the first hour… and in the end feeling like nothing was accomplished, despite not having a chance to take a silent breath throughout. Seeing that while not intended, there were still great wins in what we did resolve.
Conflict with a peer
Not appreciating a comment someone made in a meeting, or noticing that someone seems to be “sick” a little too often, leaving others to carry the weight (and still getting all the credits.) Realizing that we have control of how we feel about those things, and "we" are the ones deciding this one thing is bothering us (What if we chose it will not?)
Conflict with a superior
Disagreeing with their leadership style, or feeling micromanaged when autonomy would have unlocked greater results. Creating factual visualizations (reports, metrics, charts) of how our approach would be more successful. Developing a deeper layer of trust.
Conflict with direct reports or team members
Retaining empathy while balancing accountability. Learning that leadership is about being trusted (business,) more than liked (personal relationships.) Always having open communication channels and keeping everyone abreast of the "why's" of decisions made.
Personal curveballs
Juggling health scares, financial setbacks, layoffs, or unexpected life shifts that keep us in check of what we can control, and what we cannot. Taking the time to be grateful of what we do have, and what is to come.
The pivot point is realizing that challenges aren’t punishments or “bad luck” but opportunities for growth; and that is when evolution begins. Every single one of them, as small or as devastating as they may seem in the moment, are the very things that force us and help build resilience, clarity, depth, and maturity. Stop for a moment and think of something that thought had killed you inside. Where are you today from it?
When we boldly decide to stop finding blame or misfortune and start asking: What’s the best version of me I know I can bring into this? What is the silver lining?
This is when change happens, and growth becomes a gift.
