Good Choices in Hard Times

Leadership Coaching Notes DECEMBER 2010

Good Choices in Hard Times

I knew Alan put on his upbeat leader’s face to inspire his team, but I could tell from his posture that he was discouraged. He was worn down from weeks of mostly bad news and knowing that there wasn’t much hope of relief given the tough challenges that were his responsibility to overcome. He asked, “How do I feel positive and stay my best in the face of unrelenting bad news?”

Face the Realities

Alan had recently been awarded a promotion to a top role in a high-profile area that was in big trouble. As we talked, he clarified several important realities about his situation that may sound familiar to you.

With new oversight responsibilities, the content of his communications stream shifted dramatically. Rather than discussing progress that was evident when he was directly doing project work and close to his team every day, he was now trapped in his office handling a stream of emails and calls about problems and threats. He missed hearing the good news!

Alan had to achieve results through others and let them cover his former role, one he knew how to handle confidently. The stretch of working outside his comfort zone and wondering if others could handle his old role well left him second guessing everyone’s competence, his and theirs. It was tiring.

With far more work on his plate, Alan prioritize more aggressively. What did he cut? You guessed it, personal time, social connections, and activities he enjoyed outside of work. With less time for activities and people that fueled his spirit, he was losing his “mojo.”

Don’t Make It Harder than It Is

Alan awoke to a bigger reality. He discovered choices he hadn’t noticed when he over focused on all the hard parts of his situation. As he named new options, he spontaneously sat straighter and broke into a smile. He wasn’t trapped. I could tell he was stepping up to a new level of executive success.

Here’s what he committed to do more regularly:

• Remember that the bad news I face is just part of a much bigger picture. Reset my lens so I see everything and not only isolated examples of bad news.

• Create and monitor a scorecard that will track the critical performance areas of my group so I can see into the system regularly, without being hands on. It will save needless worry.

•  Ask others about their progress and successes so I can enjoy them and show that I appreciate their efforts. Start every meeting by asking for good news. We’ll all benefit.

• Enjoy the growth and success of others as one of my successes, just like I enjoy the successes of my kids. Even though they have the direct wins, I know my vision, guidance, support and ability to run an effective organization set the environment for their success. We have all won.

Which of Alan’s strategies might help you stay at your best, enjoy your work and achieve the impact on people and programs you most want? Have you found others? Unrelenting hard times aren’t easy. But, as the stories of POWs and the Chilean miners show, we can often find choices that empower us when we decide to look for them, even in impossible situations.

What’s Next?

If you or leaders you develop are overwhelmed and looking for ways to handle the seemingly impossible, I can help you find new answers. Click on Make An Appointment and schedule a free conversation to explore options for help.

All the best,

Meredith Kimbell
Executive Advisor,Strategy Consultant
Corporate Adventure

Leadership Coaching Notes uses real or composite client examples drawn from 25 years of coaching and consulting with leaders committed to solving their toughest personal, interpersonal and organizational issues.
Unless otherwise attributed, all material is copyrighted by Meredith Kimbell © 2011. All rights reserved. You may reprint any or all of this material if you include the following:
“Leadership Coaching Notes © 2011 Meredith Kimbell, Corporate Adventure, Reston, VA. Used with permission.”