Sage Tidbit #6: Staying Calm & Present
A tidbit is a small morsel…. of inspiration, insights, or lessons learned/tips to reflect on, and digest, over your week.
At the end of all my coaching engagements (which typically last 6-18 months), a question I often ask is, “What did you learn about yourself in this process?”
Today, I share a real-time reflection from one of my clients who became more aware of how stressed they can get because they are so high-achieving and task-oriented. This can get in the way of their ability to be present, listen deeply and respond in the best way versus reacting.
When your nervous system is activated, you literally are not operating from your prefrontal cortex (critical thinking/executive functioning/rational brain), but from your limbic (aka emotional) brain. This is not the best frame of mind to make executive decisions. My client identified the ability to stay calm or bring oneself down when “hyped up” as a pivotal skill a leader needs as they take on a larger scope and complexity of responsibilities. They noted an order of magnitude difference in this competency from themselves and their manager and manager's boss. During the course of our coaching work, they observed different strategies and ways in which their manager addresses these kind of situations, and they experimented with incorporating approaches into their own style and way of working.
Reflection Questions:
What enables you to stay calm, or calm yourself down when you, or others are being reactive?
How can you be more responsive versus reactive in particularly stressful situations?
What are the best ways you learn in the moment, from your experience, so you can stay calm, focused and present?
Suze Shaner-Brodax is an executive coach and leadership & organization effectiveness consultant. She also teaches yoga and meditation – tools to keep one sane in uncertain times. She helps professionals step up to their fullest leadership, life and growth potential. At times this means getting out of their own way in getting important stuff accomplished. www.sagelead.com.