I’d like to challenge you to extract all hyperbole from your new years resolutions.
Make no unatainable claims. Make no bombastic declarations of life changing mastery.
Instead I’d like to challenge you to be brave and address these 7 key anchors to having a better year. They’ll take daily time and attention, but they’ll have the greatest impact.
1. Get in your own skin.
Read the last email you sent at work. Ask yourself if you were writing to your spouse, would you have written that note the same way?
See what I mean?
I’m not suggesting you speak to your boss like your wife. What I am suggesting is to get into your own skin, and write/interact/lead/learn that way.
Being yourself is your first step to life mastery. If you don’t know who you are, you cannot create. If you don’t know who you are, you cannot connect. If you don’t know who you are, you cannot grow.
When you know who you are, interactions at work become easy. When you know who you are, choosing a life partner is simple. Be you.
2. Create positive energy around you and feed off of it.
At work, and in life, we shun references to energy. I call bullshit. Everything is energy.
When I walk into a room with my team, I can feel when things are going well, and more importantly, when they’re not. Create positive energy around you, and use that energy as your jump off point. If it’s not anchored in positive energy, it won’t work.
I feel everything deeply. I used to think this was a hinderance in my life and my career. Now I see that it’s a super power. I used to also hold back my postive energy with my team. What a terrible mistake, I’d think. I have to keep them on their toes. Wrong.
If you see something postive happening in your life or in your organiztion – shout it from the rooftops. Allow it in and share it outwardly.
3. Do the right thing.
The worst thing you can do is nothing, but always do the right thing. We know what is right for our work. We also know what is right for our family. Yet, we ignore that voice. We ignore that knowing.
Think of it this way. If you’re contemplating terminating a team member. On the surface it may not feel like the right thing. But if you challenge yourself and meditate on it. You’ll find that the person isn’t good at the job, or they hate the job, or they’re burnt out. They’re not happy, which means neither are the people around them.
What you’ll find is that doing the right thing, is letting them go. You’re freeing them to find the right career for themselves. Or to start a new business. You’re doing the right thing for you and for them.
Do the right thing. Even if it’s hard.
4. Love and support those around you – it’s always love.
No matter what you do in life, or work do it from a place of love. No brainer.
5. Speak words of kindness.
Words have weight. Words have power. Words have meaning. I can recall negative conversations I had with my boss 20 years ago. They stung then, and I’m embarrassed to say, they still sting. The good and the bad. If they need to hear constructive feedback, give it, but do so with respect.
It’s your choice. So choose words of kindness.
6. See what’s in front of you.
My best friend and I say “I see you” to each other as a greeting and sign of deep respect and admiration. This is because we give each other the respect to fully see one another. We put down our devises and focus on being in the moment.
Try this at work, and at home. I dare you. Put down your device, look them in the eye, and truly see the person in front of you.
7. Hear them and try to understand where they’re coming from.
You may not agree, but give them the respect to hear them out This has always been a difficult one for me.
I’m learning every day, and challening my perspective of the world. I may not have to agree with your view. If you allow them the opportunity to explain their view, you will be able to connect. Then you can move foward together shoulder to shoulder.
These steps aren’t easy. I work on each daily. It will take courage for you to bring them into your life, and into your work. Best part? That courage is contagious.
Have a happy and healthy 2020.
