Have you ever had a moment of panic when a client asks you to do something new and you don’t know how to do it? There’s a term for that “magic” that happens between fear and success: Grit.
While the uneasy feeling of new challenges can be overwhelming, those times are also the source of great creativity.
I have 3 easy steps I use every time I need to harness my own Grit:
1) Breathe
2) Breathe
3) Breathe
Stay with me – I mention breathing three times for a reason:
Breathing, in addition to being vital to human existence, slows down your heart rate, allows the body to take in more oxygen and ultimately signals the brain to wind down.
It also balances your hormones- lowering down cortisol levels and increasing endorphin rush in the body. When you can slow things down, it clears the mind to allow more creativity.
Breathing, in conjunction with good posture like at a standing desk or working on a whiteboard sends more oxygen to muscles in your body and brain to enable creativity to flow.
Breathing, when you have achieved the result and reflecting on your work, such as a deep sigh of relief is paying respect to you as a human.
You have worked hard to get in the right mindset, you’ve done the physical and mental work and now it is time to breathe. Breathing in the context of self reflection is an exercise of your leadership muscle.
I once had a client ask me to help him create a suite of documents to satisfy a requirement for which I had no experience. When I shared that I had no experience, he said: “We’ll learn together.”
The lesson here is when we come to the table with grit and do the hard work to get a result, people remember that. They remember you for the commitment, the tenacity and the courage to do what is needed.
What does Grit mean to you?
Do you see it as the characteristics you need to take on a challenge, or do you see it simply as something messy that you shy away from? Next, if you think you have Grit, do you have the capabilities to press forward?
If not, think about the breathing techniques I have outlined here. If you still want to talk about personal development for your unique situation or your team, I invite you to book a call, it’s free. Aren’t you worth the investment of time in yourself?
For more insights about Grit, listen to my podcast this week with Nicole Brown, Chief Innovation Officer at Open Book Extracts.
The CEO’s Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track – relates to Grit in chapter 3-Compass Point: Peace of Mind and Finding Your True North. Be sure to get your copy to learn more.
Resources
Good Reads
A classic and everyone should have this in their leadership library. It’s a story of staying the course with the right people and with consistency and grit, moving from just good to great.
Good Music
Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
A great song that is a story about pressing forward. I get really jazzed about this one on the treadmill.
Good People
“You can leverage what you’re good at in any industry. Companies are looking for those all-around athletes, people who have skill sets and tenacity and drive and curiosity and passion to play a role and be an asset.” – Nicole Brown
Listen and subscribe now: https://lnkd.in/dfxK2DA