I love my job and yet sometimes I find myself having a difficult day. I know I can’t be alone.
I’m told even great artists like Picasso didn’t like cleaning their brushes. I’m lucky to support many individuals who want to maximize the professional impact they have and learn to reduce daily stress.
Recent research from the Association for Psychological Science tracks with my own coaching experience. They say, “Chronic workplace stress not only impacts emotional wellbeing, but also leads to significant physical health issues and cognitive impairments.” I want to take this opportunity to share a story about a client with lessons you can use.
Sandra’s Story
Sandra (not her real name) is a skilled project manager in a technology firm. Her job requires her to work collaboratively with coworkers to ensure software updates are delivered on time with no bugs. In our first coaching session, she described a typical day with meetings, both remote and in person, to solve problems within short time frames. She enjoyed her work, yet she was ending each day feeling exhausted.
Lesson 1
Consider how your skills and talents contribute to others. Being of service is one of the key features of being self-actualized according to Abraham Maslow.
As a project manager, Sandra contributed by inspiring creativity in others which translated into their being more productive.
Lesson 2
Actively express gratitude and recognize the accomplishments of others. Gratitude in the workplace leads to increased job satisfaction, improved mental health, and stronger team cohesion.
Sandra used the company’s Slack channel to acknowledge the contributions of others plus she would send E-cards to the team when they accomplished a challenging milestone.
Lesson 3
Recognize what gives you purpose and meaning in your work. This is often described as identifying “your why”. Help others connect those dots so they too can find joy in their efforts.
I asked Sandra to tell me what she liked about being a project manager. Her face lit up as she described collaborating with her teammates to solve problems. I reflected to Sandra that this was “her why”.
Lesson 4
Stay curious. Adopt a beginner’s mindset. When people keep learning they never become complacent.
Sandra developed lunch and learn programs where company executives would host conversations to give Sandra’s colleagues greater insight into how their work contributed to the overall success of the company.
Lesson 5
Care for yourself. Take time for breaks. Apply the benefits of mindfulness exercises and intentional breathing. Remember to “put your mask on first before helping others”. You will naturally be a role model, particularly if you openly share about your self-care practices.
Sandra shared her self-care practices of stress reduction through mindfulness. She offered to help team members tailor a personal self-care regimen for themselves.
Reflection is Key
Soon Sandra was back on track. She was able to be less reactive and more proactive when unexpected problems occurred. She reported feeling more energy at the end of a day which pleased herself, her husband, and her children.
You are invited to apply these lessons to help your mind, your body and those around you to stay energized and excited to tackle new challenges each day.
Tom Drucker
I use science and skill to help leaders, teams, and individual contributors achieve their goals with less stress. It’s gratifying to see people discover their power to consciously switch from a fear-based to a growth-based mindset and create breakthrough results. My first career was as a Clinical Psychologist. I switched my PhD studies to the Anderson Business School at UCLA to research which attributes make leaders successful and how to create sustainable company-wide improvements. At Consultants in Corporate Innovation, I have worked with large companies like Google and Apple as well as small and mid-sized companies. I use my business experience and knowledge of neuroscience to help leaders, teams, and individuals to change their habits, transforming their lives forever. I also help sell family-owned companies as a Managing Director with the Janas Investment Bank.