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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Category Archives: Advice from a Life Coach

November 1, 2023 Resilience Can Be Learned (4 ways)

woman sitting with back to camera looking over mountains

Many people think that resilience, courage, boldness, and other related personal qualities are 100% innate and cannot be learned. But that’s simply not the case. While it’s true that some people may be naturally bold or buoyant, that doesn’t mean there isn’t hope for the rest of us. We can build our resilience or amplify our courage. These are life skills that can be learned (or improved) with practice, intentionality, and repetition.

But how do you go about it? What methods and approaches can you use to improve your resilience? Here are 4 ways to get started:

Create a Resilience Plan

In some situations, you know when hard times are coming and you have the opportunity to plan for them. For example, if you know a busy season is coming up in the workplace, or if you know your family is going to have to face some difficulties (extra expenses for a home remodel, upcoming health treatments, etc.), you can put together a “resilience plan.”

This might involve setting achievement goals and mapping out periods of time when you’ll need to buckle down to get something done. When you make your plan, be sure to consider how you will achieve your goals. For example, how will you make sure your pile of work is completed on time? Will you get up an hour earlier, block all social media, set timers/follow the Pomodoro method, or get help from an accountability partner? When creating your plan, don’t forget to build in rest time or down time. Intentional breaks can help you rejuvenate and improve your focus in the long run.

Take “One More Step”

When you feel like giving up, challenge yourself to “take one more step.” If you’re exercising, try to do just one more pushup or hold your plank for just a few more seconds. If you’re working on a project, set a timer to work for just ten more minutes. If you’re writing a report, challenge yourself to write just one more paragraph (or even one more sentence). When we push ourselves beyond our perceived limits, we are actively building our resilience.

Seek Support

Building resilience can be challenging, and it’s important to seek support from others. Surround yourself with a strong network of friends, family, or mentors who can provide encouragement and guidance. Share your experiences and challenges with them, and allow them to offer their perspectives and advice. Sometimes just having someone to listen to you can make a world of difference. Additionally, consider joining support groups or online communities where you can connect with others who are also working on building resilience. Remember, you don’t have to go through this journey alone.

Cultivate a Growth Mindset

Having a growth mindset is crucial for building resilience. Embrace the belief that your abilities and qualities can be developed through hard work, dedication, and learning from failures. Instead of viewing setbacks as permanent or personal flaws, see them as opportunities for growth and improvement. Cultivate a positive attitude towards challenges and see them as stepping stones towards success. Adopting a growth mindset allows you to bounce back from setbacks, persevere through difficulties, and continuously strive for personal growth. Remember, resilience is not about never experiencing failure or hardship, but about how you respond and learn from them. Embrace a growth mindset and watch your resilience soar.

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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October 25, 2023 5 Common Career Fears and How to Avoid Them

Even seasoned, experienced leaders feel fear. Fear is a natural part of taking healthy risks, growing, and striving to achieve your goals. In my experience, the best leaders do not gloss over their fears or pretend they don’t exist. Rather, they acknowledge their fears and strategize how to overcome them.

In this article, let’s talk about 5 different fears many of us experience in the workplace, and how to overcome them.

Fear of Failure

One of the most common career fears is the fear of failure. This fear can be paralyzing and can prevent us from taking risks and exploring new opportunities. To avoid falling into this trap, it’s important to shift your mindset and embrace failure as a learning experience. If you do happen to fail, what’s the worst that could happen? If “the worst” does happen, how might you recover from it? And what opportunities might you gain from experiencing failure? With the right attitude, failure can always be reframed as an opportunity for growth and development.

Impostor Syndrome

Impostor syndrome has been a hot topic for a while, and for good reason. This commonly held fear revolves around the belief that you are not qualified or deserving of your successes, and that you will eventually be exposed as a fraud. Many high-achieving individuals experience this fear, and it can hold them back from reaching their full potential. To overcome impostor syndrome, it’s important to pause and recognize your achievements AND give yourself credit for your hard work. Surround yourself with supportive individuals who can provide perspective and remind you of your capabilities.

Fear of Making Waves

In the workplace, many people fear speaking up and making waves. They worry about the potential consequences of rocking the boat or challenging the status quo. However, staying silent can hinder career growth, prevent positive change, and make you feel untrue to yourself and your values. To overcome this fear, it’s important to cultivate assertiveness and effective communication skills. Practice expressing your opinions and ideas in a respectful and constructive manner. Remember, your voice matters and your insights can contribute to the success of your team or organization.

Fear of Rejection

The fear of rejection stems from the fear of being judged or not accepted by others. To overcome this fear, it’s important to build resilience and develop a growth mindset. Remember that rejection is not a reflection of your worth or abilities—it really has more to do with the other person than it does with you. If you do experience rejection, don’t look at it as a stop sign, but as a speed bump. Reassess, re-strategize, and keep going.

Fear of Change

Many individuals stay firmly rooted in their comfort zones, even if it means missing out on potential growth opportunities. However, change is inevitable in our fast-paced world, and embracing it is crucial for personal and professional development. To overcome the fear of change, focus on the potential benefits and opportunities that change can bring. Be open-minded, flexible, and willing to adapt to new circumstances. Remember, true growth happens outside of your comfort zone.

Fear is a natural part of the human experience, especially when it comes to our careers. By taking intentional steps to acknowledge and address our fears head-on, we can overcome them and unlock our true potential. Keep in mind, even great leaders are not exempt from experiencing fear. However, they’ve learned to get comfortable with stepping outside their comfort zones—that’s the only way to truly grow and face challenges with confidence and dignity.

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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October 4, 2023 Changing Your Work Approach with the Seasons (to Achieve Success)

In the upper Midwest, we’re currently making the shift to colder weather, shorter days, and (all too soon) snowfall. During this time of year, our animal instincts are telling us to prepare for the lean months ahead—a time when it’s okay to slow down, bundle up, and stay indoors. And maybe the hibernating bears and migrating geese are onto something! Studies have shown that people endure more depression and anxiety in the winter, have greater difficulty breathing, experience a drop in energy levels, and more. So, maybe it IS a good idea to start operating a little differently to prepare for the tough winter months ahead.

One thing you can do is adopt a “winter mentality” in relation to work. To set yourself up for success, consider adapting to the changing seasons by trying any of the following four tactics:

Slow Down

The winter months are the perfect time to take the advice of working “smarter not harder.” To do this, it’s a good idea to take a step back and think about your current responsibilities AND your typical work day. What are your current priorities? What are your biggest time sinks? Are you dealing with any inefficiencies? Do you often find yourself doing work that is low priority (or should be someone else’s priority?).

Once you’ve identified these areas, look for opportunities to streamline your work process. Can you delegate tasks to others? Can you automate certain repetitive tasks? Can you eliminate any unnecessary steps in your workflow? By slowing down and evaluating your work approach, you can make changes that will increase efficiency and productivity during the winter months.

Stay Organized

With the potential for increased workload and additional holiday responsibilities, staying organized is crucial during the winter season. Take time to declutter your workspace, both physical and digital. Create a system for prioritizing tasks and deadlines. Utilize tools such as calendars, to-do lists, and project management software to keep track of your responsibilities. By staying organized, you can minimize stress and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.

Listen To Your Body

Just like hibernating critters intuitively know when to slow down and seek shelter, so, too, is it wise to listen to your body. Our bodies are constantly sending us messages (“I’m hungry,” “I feel tense and stressed,” “I ache”) that can signal when we need to make a change. If you’re feeling exhausted, gloomy, or lethargic, it’s a good idea to take notice and respond accordingly. Take a few days off, see if you can lighten your work load, or indulge in some self-care (a massage, soaking in a hot tub, or taking a long walk in nature). Pay attention to your body’s needs and give yourself the care and rest you require to thrive during the winter months.

Adapt Your Schedule

The change in seasons can also warrant a change in your daily schedule. Consider shifting your work hours to align with the daylight hours. If you find yourself feeling more energized and productive in the morning, try starting your workday earlier. Alternatively, if you struggle with motivation in the morning and feel more alert in the evening, consider adjusting your schedule accordingly. By aligning your work schedule with your natural energy patterns, you can optimize your productivity and well-being.

We naturally tend to operate differently in the winter, and that inclination can be applied to the workplace as well. This winter, make an intentional effort to adjust your work approach (and life approach) to fit your needs. Doing so can help prevent the burnout and lethargy so many of us grapple with during the winter months. Listen to your body, slow down when needed, and focus on working at a sustainable pace. You’ve got this!

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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