So here’s the scenario: Your reflooring process just blew up. There was a fight with a contractor. Some money gone. A loss of trust. And yet–your end date is still the same. There’s a buttload of work to accomplish between now and then. Your workers are moving slow. There’s anxiety in the air. You’ve tried being pushy, you’ve tried bringing in doughnuts, but nothing changes. Then one of your bosses wants to know what’s going to happen on some particular day two months in the future. But how can you figure that out right now? So many dependencies. Should you increase labor? Increase the speed? Switch out a contractor? You’re stressed out and it shows.
Sound familiar?
It’s called a tailspin and it’s not pretty, but it is painfully common during projects. Because let’s face it. You’re often in crisis mode. A deadline is looming. And there’s so much responsibility sitting on your shoulders. The more problems that arise, the worse your anxiety gets. How can you find equilibrium? It’s all about coming back to the present moment, and these tools will help.
Prioritize Your Time
Your time and energy are precious resources–particularly in our current society. Did you know that if you’re doing deep work, and you become distracted, you spend five whole minutes ramping back up? That time adds up across months. Be intentional, set boundaries and be wary of the rabbit hole. People can be persuasive, but always consider if spending time on this particular thing is what needs to happen today.
Get Back to Basics
Remember Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? When humans are in a true crisis (fire, flood, hurricane), they simply can’t worry about what’s happening in two weeks. They instinctively return to the basics. Consider what nourishes the minds and bodies of you and your team. Come back to what’s most important. That typically means today.
Limit the Plan
Some people are planners. Others are survivors. Most of us are a little of both. So you need to find the sweet spot between. When asked about the future, ask yourself–what the shortest span I can plan and still feel grounded and stable? Maybe it’s two weeks. Maybe it’s two hours. Both are valid. Hold your ground. Admit that you don’t know anything beyond a particular date and be okay with that. Then be a survivor. Bring your focus back to what’s right in front of you: What do I need to move forward at this time?
Look at Yourself
Perhaps not according to Merriam-Webster, but in the business world, the definition if insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. I used to think this was enough logic. But when you’ve tried different tactics (re: aggression and doughnuts) and nothing works, it’s time for a new approach. Pivot and take a good look at yourself in your current situation. Be the observer and ask yourself: What am I exuding? What do I look like to my team? I looked. And what I saw was anxiety and stress. No wonder my team was a mess. They’re looking to me as a model. If I’m stressed, then they are too. But when I came back to the present moment, focusing on today’s issues and giving them the attention they needed, they felt heard. My anxiety had lifted. And soon, so did their own.
The present moment can actually support the deadline. It happens every day. Just remember: prioritize your energy, return to basic needs when in crisis, accept uncertainty about the long-term detailed plan, and when you’re frustrated, take a good look at yourself.
Om.
