YOUR BUSINESS
Making progress when everyone around you is being stupid.
Let's start with disappointing performance of bosses: not making decisions, not providing a strategy, not fixing organization problems, not supporting you in general. Or … there's partners not delivering, and it becomes your fault, budgets being cut without expectations being cut, imposed re-organizations, unreasonable corporate regulations…. I'm not trying to come up with a complete list because it would just be too depressing!
So what's your list? And will you do about it?
Whatever it is you are faced with, your possible reactions are: Fight, Flee, or Freeze. This is biological. Freeze is not an option, though it is always a temptation. If you flee, make sure you do it with intention and style - but that's not what I'm here to talk about at this point.
So if you decide to fight….
There is no excuse for not delivering results. (even though there are those hundred things that are in your way) Circumstances no matter how real, do not make up for a lack of results. There is no magic answer to make all the annoying stuff go away. In fact one of my key points to new managers is that
"your job is to do both what your job description says it is, and to deal with all the crap that gets in the way of your doing what your job is".
And the higher you go, the more crap there is. So you need to find a strategy for coping that will work for you, and get busy.
Here are 4 techniques that I have employed at the low points in my career. And in my case, I often did these in order...
- Victim time
It's easy to say, "no excuses", results only -- but sometimes you just get tired and need a break from being positive and constructive. This is called being human. Here's how to use "Victim Time".
Depending on the size of the pile, I pick a bounded time period. Sometimes it's an hour, sometimes it's a day. Sometimes it's a week. But the important thing is that it's bounded. Find someone you can whine to (not in your org), write in your journal, focus on everything that's wrong, eat a gallon of ice cream, and then be done with it. Just get it out of your system. There is no upside (especially to you) to staying pissed off about your job for weeks or months (or years).
- Parallel Universe
When my job would feel extra-impossible, I would take myself through this exercise which I call the "Parallel Universe". Here's how it goes. If there were a parallel universe, and everything was exactly the same, except that there was someone, more capable, smarter, more experienced, more connected, taller, more fit, and with better hair, in my role instead of me, what would THEY do?
I find this a very productive shock to the system and it always yields a few good ideas.
- Make progress on one "impossible" thing.
In this sea of complexity and dead ends, obstacles, etc., remember that nothing feels better than making forward progress. Find one thing that you can impact, get your desired outcome very clearly defined, and execute with great intention. Then move on to the next one. The whole mess will still be there next month so don't try to fix it all at once. - There's more time than you think
Don't let yourself be forced into thinking that the crisis is so urgent that there isn't time to work on it. Just start working on it. If you have a week and it will take a month, I guarantee that if you don't work on it, and the month goes by, it will still be an urgent crisis, and you'll be wishing you had started a month ago. Sooooooooo many organizations make this mistake. Don't freeze instead of fight. Prioritize and Do It! -- time will be OK.
YOUR PEOPLE
How to inspire your employees when even you are discouraged.
I have been in situations where things are not going well, and my boss just wasn’t helping. In fact, sometimes my bosses were so poorly regarded by the whole organization that I almost felt that supporting them showed a lack of credibility on my part……
YOUR PUBLICITY
Standing out when your work goes unnoticed.
One of the most frustrating things is when you have one of those jobs where you need to keep everything running smoothly, and you DO -- and therefore, no one notices….
And THEN, one of your peers takes his eye off the ball, a crisis ensues -- a full five alarm fire, which EVERYONE notices, and then they finally wake up and fix it with great drama and flourish. The crowd cheers. UGH!!! You have been diligent and faithfully and successfully avoiding all such crisis, and the person who screws up gets all the recognition….
YOUR LIFE
Ideas for coping with being overwhelmed.
Coping
One of the topics I coach more people on than almost anything else is Coping. You need to recognize that coping is an achievement in
itself that distinguishes effective managers from un-promote-able ones. Your management is always perceiving what you “can handle”. Show them that you can carry a heavy load without freaking out….
About Patty
Patty Azzarello was the youngest general manager at HP ever at the age of 33. She ran a $1B software business at the age of 35 and was a CEO for the first time at the age of 38. Patty is known for her personal leadership qualities, her straightforward and practical manner, and her genuine interest in making a real connection with people to help them to advance their career and business, and to find ways to enjoy their life more.
Patty Azzarello is the CEO of Azzarello Group, www.AzzarelloGroup.com a unique services organization focused on helping business leaders actually get done what they want to do, and get a bigger payoff from their hard work. Azzarello Group delivers practical, experience-based tools to business leaders, through products and services including articles, e-books, mentoring programs, executive coaching, public speaking, small business retreats, and business execution workshops.
