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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Tag Archives: Margaret Smith 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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September 13, 2023 Mastering Time Management: Tips for Boosting Productivity

We’ve all been there. There’s a deadline looming ahead of us, or a work project that we really need to start…but we log into social media instead and start scrolling. Or we check the news. Or we get distracted by daily life (the laundry needs to be done, the kids have school and sports, the dog needs a vet appointment), which can derail us even more.

With so many things vying for our attention—both entertainment and little tasks—how can we boost our focus and get the things done at the TOP of our to-do lists? How can we practice better time management and boost overall productivity?

Here are five ways…

Opt for Airplane Mode

If social media or online browsing is your weakness, try to do whatever work you can in airplane mode (yes, your laptop has this function too). This will give you a measure of control over mindless scrolling and help you to solely focus on the task at hand.

Set a Timer

An excellent productivity method is to use timers to do “work sprints.” Set the timer for a short amount of time (say, half an hour or even twenty minutes) and focus on ONE task until the timer beeps. Do not multitask or stray from what you’re doing. These short bursts of concentrated work can help you stay focused and productive.

Prioritize Tasks

Make a to-do list and prioritize the tasks based on their importance and deadline. Start with the most critical tasks first and work your way down the list. By focusing on the most important tasks, you can ensure your time is spent efficiently and effectively.

Eliminate Distractions

Identify potential distractions in your environment and take steps to eliminate or minimize them. This could involve turning off notifications on your phone, closing unnecessary tabs on your computer, or finding a quiet workspace where you can concentrate without interruptions. If you’re working at home, it’s a good idea to go into a room and close the door to separate yourself from the rest of the house (and all the housework that’s waiting for you!). This sends the signal to yourself (and anyone else at home) that it’s work time, and you’re about to dig in.

Take Breaks

While it may seem counterintuitive, taking regular breaks can actually improve your productivity. Research has shown that short breaks during work can help recharge your brain and prevent burnout. So, get up and stretch, practice a little yoga, take a walk, or enjoy a cup of tea—whatever will help you relax and detach for a few minutes. Then, once you’re feeling refreshed, you can tackle your work with renewed energy.

Bonus Tip: Use the Pomodoro Technique

This technique is another effective method for managing time and boosting productivity. This technique involves breaking your work into intervals called “pomodoros,” typically 25 minutes long, with short breaks in between. After completing a set number of pomodoros, you can take a longer break. This method helps you maintain focus and prevents burnout by providing regular breaks.

By implementing these strategies and making them a part of your daily routine, you can improve your time management skills and increase your overall productivity. Remember, it may take some trial and error to find the methods that work best for you, so don’t be afraid to experiment and adjust as needed. Good luck on your productivity journey!

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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