DEVELOPMENT
Five ways to learn to thrive during uncertainty
Every day , media outlets share stories about new predictions and studies on the future of work . Some of them are positive , others negative , and while only some of the stories will become reality , many create uncertainty , says Michelle Gibbings
THE EXPERT
Michelle Gibbings is a workplace expert . She is the author of ‘ Step Up : How to Build Your Influence at Work ’, ‘ Career Leap : How to Reinvent and Liberate your Career ’ and the new book ‘ Bad Boss : What to do if you work for one , manage one or are one ’.
The role of Chief of Staff has changed and will continue to evolve as the nature of the work required and demands from bosses increase . Chiefs of Staff are often at the epicentre of action when a workplace is in crisis . They are problemsolving , managing stakeholders , balancing competing demands and constantly putting the needs of others ahead of their own .
Uncertainty , ambiguity and complexity go hand-in-hand with the Chief of Staff role . Consequently , being equipped to navigate these situations is crucial if you want to influence outcomes and secure results while maintaining your mental health and well-being .
Manage your energy During times of uncertainty and crisis , pressure increases . The pressure becomes unhealthy when you feel like you have no control , are making little progress , and your workload feels overwhelming . It ’ s important to notice when these feelings arise and then take a moment to pause and reflect .
Taking time out helps ensure your actions are more mindful and less reactive . During your reflection , consider what you can and can ’ t control . It ’ s easy to spend loads of time focusing on the things you can ’ t change , rather than directing your energy towards those you can influence or change .
Don ’ t hold on too tight People who know their purpose can more easily overcome obstacles to forge their way forward . They have the confidence to take a risk and make decisions . In the context of your career , your purpose is your ‘ why ’— why you do what you do . When you are clear on your purpose , you are better placed to know what to say ‘ yes ’ or ‘ no ’ to .
Being clear on your purpose doesn ’ t mean you fixate on one approach or one outcome . In times of change and uncertainty , fixating in this way may mean you unintentionally let other good opportunities pass you by .
When you are flexible and adaptable , you swiftly adjust expectations and alter course while staying aligned with your purpose .
Be deliberate Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan , in their book Execution : The discipline of getting things done write about how , “ We don ’ t think ourselves into a new way of acting , we act ourselves into a new way of thinking .”
To be change-ready , you need to be willing to do things differently and open to embracing self-mobilisation . With this approach , you seek to change first , rather than waiting for other people to tell you to change . Think of it as being the early adopter for a new product — volunteer for opportunities at work to get involved in new ways of working and new projects . Offer to test and try new products . When you do this , you will always be at the forefront of change .
Cultivate your bounce-back mentality There are always times when things don ’ t go to plan at work . It might be a project behind schedule , a missed appointment or a calculation error in a report .
To bounce-back from a setback , it ’ s helpful to embrace a mindset where you grow through the challenge . When you do this , you focus on the learning rather than the disappointment .
Maintain perspective Also , while work is important , so too are other aspects of your life .
As the actor Amy Poehler puts it , “ Your career won ’ t take care of you . It won ’ t call you back or introduce you to its parents . Your career will openly flirt with other people while you are around . It will forget your birthday and wreck your car . Your career will blow you off if you call it too much …”
Find time to maintain strong connections with friends and family , exercise and eat well , meditate and laugh . All of these elements are essential ingredients for releasing work ’ s pressure valve . S
www . michellegibbings . com
56 Executive PA | Summer Issue 2021