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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Category Archives: Advice from a Life Coach

January 3, 2024 Seeing the forest…

Image by Joe from Pixabay

The beginning of the year is one of those rare times that is conducive to raising our heads and taking a bird’s-eye view of the year ahead. Normally, many of us tend to keep our heads down and march forward, one foot in front of the other, doing whatever daily work and tasks come our way. This way of living may seem a bit passive (or can even seem like “survival mode”), but many of us are too busy–or think we’re too busy–to do anything else.

However, focusing on the trees instead of the forest can get us into trouble and may actually be costing us valuable time and resources. We might not be working efficiently, for instance, or we may be heading down the wrong path entirely. Additionally, we may miss opportunities for creativity and innovation if we’re so focused on the daily “grind.”

I suggest taking a step back and thinking about the forest.

“Forest thinking” means seeing the big picture and considering all the many options that lay at your feet. This type of thinking inevitably involves reflection, which may not seem terribly appealing to some. Reflection, however, can be whatever you want it to be. It can involve journaling, talking out your ideas with a good listener, or taking a long walk and thinking about your options. It could also involve creating a vision board or a Pinterest board (if you’re a more visual person), or drawing a mind map.

The goal of forest thinking is really twofold:

  1. It helps you identify where you are. What are you current struggles? What’s going well? What would you like to change?
  2. It helps you identify where you’d like to go. What options are available to you? (and are you sure you’re not thinking too small?) What would your ideal year look like? How can you make that happen? Does a major change or changes need to happen? What are your personal goals? What are your dreams/aspirations?

As you consider these questions, do not put limits on yourself. Dare to dream! You deserve a great year ahead, and it’s okay to think big or consider making a major change (such as a career shift). This month, I challenge you to take a step back, reflect in whatever way suits you, and start seeing the forest ahead.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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December 20, 2023 The Power of Delegation (During the Holidays)

If you’re like many people I know, you tend to get bogged down and busy during the holiday season. You take on an array of tasks—planning holiday gatherings, meal prep, gift shopping, arranging to get yourself and your family to all those holiday activities. With so much on your plate (and I’m not just talking about the turkey!), it can seem difficult to slow down, catch your breath, and re-strategize. But that’s exactly what I encourage you to do.

One of the most powerful ways to lighten your workload is to delegate. Delegation does not mean you’re lazy or ineffective—far from it. Instead, it is a sign of competent leadership, and it shows you are self-aware enough to know when you’ve just about hit your limit.

Even though many of us know delegation is a good idea, we tend to put up barriers. We make up excuses, such as:

“No one else has the skills to do what I need. I have to do it myself.”

“Everyone else is busy, too. It wouldn’t be fair to delegate.”

“What if someone else takes a different approach than I would? I don’t think I’d like that.”

“Delegating doesn’t save all that much time. I would have to explain the entire process/task/etc. to someone else before they could do it.”

…And on and on.

Though these excuses may sound convincing, they are usually quite flimsy. Usually, someone else will have some free time to take on part of your to-do list. And even if a task is difficult and/or the other person does not have the same skills you do, you should be able to train them in (and once you do, they can continue to help in the future).

A lot of these excuses boil down to one key concept: Letting go. For those who like to be in control, it may be difficult to hand over a project to another person. But does it really matter if that person approaches it exactly how you would have? Does it matter if they use different resources or skills to get the job done? As long as the end result is what you were looking for, it shouldn’t matter at all. Besides, you may learn something by observing how someone else approaches a familiar task or project. These can be learning moments, if you let them.

If you’re currently stretched too thin, I challenge you to practice some delegation. Just make sure the delegation is appropriate (not all work tasks can or should be delegated) and that the other person has the time and necessary experience to do the job.

Keep in mind, delegation can be effective in your personal life, as well as your work life. Planning a holiday gathering? Ask someone else to make the pie or to pop by the store to buy paper plates and napkins. Running your kids around to after-school activities? See if you can partner with another parent for drop off/pick up.

All great leaders delegate, and you can embrace this attribute as well. When approached with tact and a little strategy, delegation can work out well for all parties involved.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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December 13, 2023 4 Signs You Need to Slow Down

I’ve worked and spoken with many people who are constantly on the go. They juggle family responsibilities, work, household management, volunteering, and more, while attempting to squeeze in a little time for themselves (working out at the gym, reading a few pages of a book). This pace can work for a while, but when one thing fails, that can create a dominoes-effect disaster. Alternatively, an overly busy person might simply hit a wall and feel completely zapped of energy.

I urge you to not let things come to that. It’s far better to read the signs that, yes, you need to slow down instead of racing forward until your legs give out! Life is a marathon, not a sprint.

Let’s talk about 4 signs that you need to slow down and reassess/re-plan.

1. Your mind is hazy

If you feel foggy for large chunks of the day and you’re having trouble concentrating, chances are you need to slow down. Unless you’re dealing with an underlying health issue (like a thyroid problem), the culprit is likely a lack of sleep and/or spreading yourself too thin.

Make a Change:

Make a concerted effort to get enough sleep each night (7-9 hours for most people). Try using a meditation app to help slow any racing thoughts, prepare for bedtime well in advance, and stay away from screens for at least an hour before you head to bed.

2. You’re focused on the trees

Fixating on daily tasks and minute details (the trees instead of the forest) can be a sign that you’re running full steam ahead and need to pause. When we’re overly busy, we don’t stop to strategize—to see the big picture. Instead, we put our heads down and simply work…even if our work is taking us in the wrong direction.

Make a Change:

I encourage you to set aside time for big-picture thinking and planning. This planning might revolve around your work (Is your team really heading in the right direction? Are you prioritizing the right projects?) or your personal path.

3. You have trouble being present

When we’re tired and stressed, it can be exceedingly difficult to stay present. When others are speaking, we don’t necessarily give them the attention they deserve; instead, our minds are elsewhere, flitting through our to-do lists, current troubles, and the latest thing we read on social media.

Make a Change:

Recognize the importance of being present. When you catch yourself not fully paying attention to someone, make an effort to bring your attention back to them. Challenge yourself to repeat/summarize what that person said, either to yourself or out loud (It sounds like you’re suggesting XYZ, Jana. Is that right?). You can also make an effort to ask good questions after someone is done speaking.

4. You’ve neglected your self-care

If you’re skipping gym workouts and yoga classes, eating a rushed meal at your desk, and can’t remember the last time you did something nice for yourself, chances are you need to slow down and reevaluate your self-care. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s necessary. Without it, we tend to either burn out or not feel great, and that can affect many other areas of our lives.

Make a Change:

If you’re like many people I know, if it’s not on the calendar, it’s not happening! Block off self-care on your personal calendar and commit to it, just as you would commit to a scheduled meeting with your boss. Set aside time to do the things that fuel your body and soul—exercise, read a book, bake cookies, take a walk outside. Once you start taking better care of yourself, you’ll be better equipped to shine at work and be there for your family/friends.

If you’re constantly busy and constantly tired or stretched too thin, it may be time to pump the brakes. Pay attention to yourself and do NOT ignore the signs. This is your body and mind telling you that it’s time to slow down, assess, and potentially make some changes before going full steam ahead.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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