Tag Archives: margaret smith career coach
December 15, 2021 Finding Light During the Darkest Months
In the northern hemisphere, we are entering the darkest time of year. For many of us, we wake up in darkness and finish work in darkness. And that absence of sunshine can be difficult, even if you’re surrounded by the twinkle of holiday lights or the love of family members or friends. For some, this is an immensely difficult time of year—a time characterized by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and/or isolation. While some people enjoy “hibernating” in their home during the winter months, others find it difficult and yearn for human connections.
In truth, people can find themselves in “dark patches” at any point during the year. We might find ourselves depressed or frustrated with our personal life, finances, or career, or we might simply be grappling with burnout. But actual darkness can amplify those feelings and frustrations, and make us long for any sliver of sunshine (metaphorical or not!) that we can get.
How can we find light and levity amid all the darkness?
Aside from taking steps to aid your body (exercising regularly, taking Vitamin D), there are several ways to boost your spirit and your mood. Let’s talk about some of those mood-boosting methods:
1. Focus on Gratitude
This might sound a little…squishy, but gratitude does work. According to Harvard Health, “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
If you’re thankful for what you have, you develop a more positive mindset, and that can go a long way (it even can affect your physical health!). Foster gratitude by setting aside time each day to reflect on the positive aspects of your life. What is going well right now? What are you thankful for? You might also choose to jot down some of your thoughts in a gratitude journal.
2. Fight Pessimism
Many of us have negative narratives that constantly run through our brains. I call this your “saboteur.” This is the voice that tells you you’re not good enough or capable enough; it tells you to sit down and stay quiet because you don’t have anything valuable to contribute. It’s time to start talking back to this inner voice!
Start by paying attention to your thoughts. When you catch yourself thinking pessimistically, hit the pause button. Reframe your thinking so you focus on the positive and start seeing solutions, instead of barriers. And don’t forget to be kind to yourself. You’re smarter, braver, and more capable than you think you are.
3. Tune in To Positive Media
What we surround ourselves with makes a difference—the daily TV shows, movies, music, podcasts, and radio shows. Attitudes of fear, anger, mistrust, or sensationalism can easily leak into your subconscious. Even if you believe you are immune to negative news stories or terrible TV shows, you probably are not. We tend to become what we consume.
Make a conscious choice to read, listen to, and watch media that is affirming, productive, or uplifting. That doesn’t mean you have to tune out the news, but it does mean you should be mindful of your time and what you’re allowing into your life. Balance trashy TV shows with more thought-provoking content. Sprinkle in informative podcasts in between celebrity gossip. Think of the media you consume as nutrients that nourish your brain and emotional wellbeing.
4. Tap into Your Network
You don’t have to slog through your slumps on your own. Dare to reach out to trusted friends or family members and seek their support. Let them know what you need from them—someone to listen, someone to grab a cup of coffee with, someone to lend a little support—and be honest about what you’re going through. If friends and family members are not enough, consider seeking support from a licensed therapist.
5. Busy Yourself with a Hobby
Adopting a productive hobby can be a healthy way for dealing with dark periods. Do something that interests you and lifts your spirits. This could be baking, woodcarving, learning an instrument, practicing photography, painting, writing—anything that captivates and energizes you. If you’re not sure where to begin, try browsing through online course offerings through Udemy, Coursera, or Teachable.
(My online leadership course is hosted by Teachable. Feel free to check it out!)
6. Breathe
When you feel the weight of the world pressing down on you, take a time out. Pause whatever you’re doing and focus on yourself for a few minutes (or longer, if that’s what you need). Concentrate on your breathing. Take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for several seconds, and puff it out through your mouth. Do this several times, counting to yourself as you go through the motions.
You might also try other relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation (apps such as Calm or Headspace can help you get started), listening to relaxing music, stretching, or going for a quiet walk. Recognize when you’ve hit a wall and need to practice a little self-care.
Though we’re entering a dark time of year, your mood doesn’t have to match the night sky. Try a few of these techniques and let me know what worked for you. And remember to seek additional help if you need it. 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.
Tags: Beat the winter blahs, dealing with dark patches, find light during darkest months, keep energized over winter, margaret smith career coach, Margaret Smith life coach, UXL, winter productivity
- 1 comment
- Posted under Advice from a Life Coach, Changing Your Life
December 1, 2021 Creating a Culture of Accountability
In this blog, I have often talked about “love leadership” and being a compassionate, caring leader. That is vitally important for fostering open communication, developing an atmosphere of trust, and keeping your team energized and engaged.
Leading with love, however, does NOT mean being a pushover. It is crucial to not only show empathy and genuine concern for your staff, but to also create a culture of accountability. How can you balance the two? Try these five steps:
1. Communicate with Clarity
Aim for clarity, every step of the way. Set clear goals and expectations, and be transparent about the consequences if those expectations are not met. If a deadline is not met, for instance, it should come as no surprise that the person or team who missed the deadline will need to work overtime to make up for their tardiness. Or, if someone is consistently turning in sub-par work, that person should know what is coming (a probationary period, perhaps, or working with a mentor to improve their work).
Communicating with clarity also means encouraging your team to ask questions. Be transparent, create an open line of communication, and be open to modifying expectations if new information comes to light.
2. Be Consistent
A work team can always spot favoritism. Make sure you’re holding everyone accountable, not just certain team members. There will be times, of course, when some people need a little extra time or assistance to complete a project, but that doesn’t mean they are exempt from expectations. Be fair, but also be consistent.
3. Know When to Make Exceptions
Even if you’ve made your expectations clear, there are times when exceptions are necessary. Use your judgment on this and take all aspects of a situation into account before enacting consequences. If someone shows up late to a meeting because their car broke down while driving their kids to daycare, give that person a little understanding and grace. If, however, that same person is consistently late to meetings, it’s a good idea to sit down with them, discover the root of the problem, and strategize ways to help them become more punctual (perhaps their children’s daycare doesn’t open until later, in which case the solution might be to push back morning meetings by half an hour).
4. Make Sure the Consequences Match the Shortcoming
There is a big difference between turning in an assignment a few hours late and yelling at a customer. If the offense is minor, usually it’s possible to work past it. Sit down with the person, talk about what happened, and come up with a solution, going forward. If the offense is major, you may have to take extreme measures. It is never pleasant to do this, but some actions are inexcusable and go beyond a simple strategy session.
5. Know When to Make Hard Decisions
If someone repeatedly falls short of expectations or makes serious errors that affect the entire team or company, they should know that their job is potentially at stake. If you have tried several different approaches to work through their troubles, they should understand when they’re on their “final chance.” Know when to draw that line in the sand. You can be a compassionate, empathetic leader, and still dole out consequences when necessary. As long as expectations have been clear every step of the way, a probationary period or a dismissal should not come as a surprise.
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.
Tags: accountability in workplace, communication and accountability, create culture of accountability, leadership and accountability, margaret smith career coach, Margaret Smith Minneapolis career coach, methods for holding team accountable
- 1 comment
- Posted under Communication, Leadership, Organization
September 8, 2021 8 Methods For Increasing Productivity
8 Methods for Increasing Productivity
We all get the occasional “blahs” where we don’t feel like doing much of anything. This feeling has been exacerbated for many of us lately because of “pandemic burnout.” We might have trouble feeling enthusiastic or energetic, or we might get more easily discouraged or distracted. For some, it’s been difficult to keep a positive frame of mind or outlook.
And, the thing is, many of us WANT to be productive. We don’t enjoy feeling like we’re in a slump or that the days are long, yet unproductive.
So, how can we combat our listlessness, change our mindsets, and increase productivity? Everyone is different, of course, but I suggest trying one or more of the following approaches to improve your daily productivity.
1. Take Care of Yourself
I’m starting with a tip that may seem obvious, but to me, it is by far the most important. If you’re not getting enough sleep, eating well, or exercising regularly, your mental health and emotional health will suffer right alongside your physical health. There is a strong link between these health factors and personal wellbeing and, frankly, it’s nearly impossible to perform at your peak if you’re feeling unhealthy or mentally unwell. Take care of yourself! Do it for you, do it to help your productivity (and, in turn, feel better about yourself and your achievements!)
2. Tackle Difficult Projects at Your “Peak Time”
Everyone has peak times throughout the time—times when you function best, your mind is clearest, and you’re feeling mentally nimble (See Daniel Pink’s book “When” for more). For some people, that’s the morning (perhaps right after you awaken, or after you’ve had that first cup of coffee). For other people, that might be later in the day or even at night. Take note of your peak time(s) and set aside time to tackle difficult tasks for that timeframe. If you’re a morning person, for instance, it’s better to ignore your emails for a while (they can be answered when you’re not at your peak) in favor of more complex projects.
3. Do NOT Multitask
Have you heard this one before? That’s because it’s absolutely true! You won’t do your best work, and you’ll likely feel more scattered, if you try to field multiple projects or tasks at the same time. Don’t do it! Pick one assignment and put all your attention on that one thing.
4. Block Your Time
Time blocking is a method of setting aside chunks of time throughout the day to work on specific tasks, or a group of related tasks. You might, for example, set aside an hour from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. to type up a particular report. Or, you might set aside a half-hour from 1:30 to 2:00 to prep for a meeting. Putting a frame around an assignment is like making yourself a little promise: “I will focus on this one particular task from X time to Y time, and do nothing else.”
Keep in mind, you may need to adjust your time slots as the day progresses, but do your best to stick to them! Don’t overschedule yourself. Instead of blocking tasks back-to-back, be sure to schedule in some buffer time, just in case you need to reschedule. And don’t forget to take breaks!
5. Set Timers
An alternative to time blocking is setting a timer when you begin working on a particular project. See what you can get done in, say, 45 minutes. Ready, go!
Setting a timer gives you some incentive to plunge in and JUST WORK. It doesn’t matter how you approach your work or how perfect it is on the first go-around; the important thing is to forge ahead and do it.
6. Set Healthy Boundaries
What’s the one thing that derails you on a given day? For many people, it’s emails.
We see an email pop up from an important co-worker, client, or supervisor, and we automatically want to look at it and reply. I encourage you to be less reactive with your emails and more proactive. When emails control you, they also control your day. Instead of hovering over your inbox, do your best to only check it at designated times (3-4 times per day, if you can!). That way, you can maintain your focus and work on projects at hand, instead of being derailed by “the latest thing.”
7. Manage Meetings and Phone Calls
Like emails, it’s a good idea to only participate in meetings and phone calls that are scheduled in advance. If someone would like to talk with you, they can get on your calendar. Unless something is a true emergency (which, unless you’re a surgeon, this is rarely the case!), they can wait. If you are coerced into participating in a last-minute meeting, be sure to express how you feel. For example: “I can make an exception today and participate, but typically I prefer at least a day or two notice for meetings. I know you didn’t realize this, so I thought I’d let you know my policy. I appreciate it!”
8. Step Away
When you need to, take a break. Step away from your desk, stretch, exercise, eat a healthy snack—whatever it takes to rest and rejuvenate. Some workplaces even encourage naps when you’re feeling dead tired. If you’re working from home (as many people are these days), there’s no harm in stepping away for a power nap. As long as you can bounce back and continue your work, a nap can actually be quite beneficial.
If you’re hoping to increase your productivity, there are many methods and approaches you could try. Sample a few, and see what works for you. Here’s to a better week, month, and year 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.
Tags: margaret smith career coach, Margaret Smith professional speaker, methods for increasing productivity, productivity at work, productivity methods, productivity tips, productivity work tips
- Leave a comment
- Posted under Goals
