When you’re at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on.
~Franklin Roosevelt
A new client walked into the VIM Executive Coaching Denver office and her first words were: “I’m at the end of my rope. Seriously.”
Oh, could you clarify that statement just a little?
“Well, let me start with two of my department heads ‘warring away’ over a turf dispute, then we’ve got supply chain problems not to mention turnover, then there’s equipment glitches, inflation, new regulations and, of course, shipping problems and did I mention –”
We get it, we get it.
But what are you doing to respond?
As executive leaders (at every career stage) we can all feel overwhelmed, especially when times get strained. We will admit that these are challenging times. Anyone who cannot see that is naïve – at best. But essentially, what period in organizational existence has not been difficult with its own sets of supply challenges or personnel issues or shipping challenges or other disruptions? We can tell ourselves that we long (ever so much) for the good old days.
We may have been younger whenever the old days were, but we can assure you there were tests and trials in those times as well. And, if we had a time machine, do we imagine that 1917 or 1933 or December 8, 1941 or September 12, 2001, were picnics for any organizations?
We each have “our ropes,” and the end to each. We can react to everything, and out of control if we were prone to drama, but to what end? No matter what we face as executive leaders, of one thing we can be assured: that in the end, the final analysis, we have ourselves.
We have the ability to react or to respond; to let go of those ropes or to tie a knot at the end of them. The choice will always be ours.
We can go through life mindfully or we can stumble, blame “the situation,” blame others or the lousy times or mean-spirited people, or if we so desire, ourselves. None of it, not one iota of any in-the-moment reaction, will solve anything.
When we recommend that executive leaders become more mindful and to practice mindfulness meditation we may be met with open acceptance or skepticism or incredulity, but we guarantee that in doing nothing, the conditions that led to that end of the rope will still be in place. We might as well cultivate mindfulness as a way to achieve deeper understanding of ourselves and the best way in which to respond to the difficulties that have come to greet us.
Not an instant cure
VIM Executive Coaching prefers openness, honesty and self-awareness over hype and quick fixes. There must be a thousand or more management and leadership books, tapes, podcasts, on-line forums, and virtual trainings that will promise greater mastery over leadership problems. Nothing (and we are confident in this) is as effective as turning inward, being aware in the moment and responding with understanding, meaning and compassion.
If we are truly authentic in dealing with one situation, we will be authentic in mastering all of them. How will you respond to what is in front of you, here and now? Sometimes, the very best thing to do, is to stop, reflect and respond.
It needn’t be for days or hours, but as brief as five minutes to center ourselves and to see the situation for exactly as it is, and not as we would like it to be. If we can fully understand the situation and who we are in that circumstance, we will act – and act well.