Want to lead better? Be more effective? Have a greater sense of control? This is a great place to start. Being a good leader starts with first working on yourself. Just a friendly reminder the following information is for informational purposes only. If you’re looking for additional help, reach out and work with a professional.
There’s a saying that I have been using recently that I’ve taken from the airline industry, it goes as follows. “Before helping out your neighbor, remember to put your oxygen mask on first.” I’ve also found myself saying, “calm, cool, collected, and control the controllables.” Although these phrases are quite different from one another, I have found that they have been able to help me in times of stress and chaos. When things are going smoothly and flying well at our metaphorical 30,000 thousand feet it is easy to take care of yourself and the people around you. Insert some bumps and jolts of turbulence, you’re still able to stay calm and measured. Now, enter the zone where there’s tremendous bouts of turbulence, a loss of cabin pressure, and lots of commotion around you. What do we do? We tend to move inward and think of just ourselves. We forget about the people around us and try to brace ourselves for what might happen next. Now, this is where we want to put on our mask and start to get oxygen flowing. When you do, you can return to thinking with increased clarity and look if any of your neighbors need assistance with regaining focus or composure. The same could be said at home, in the office, or out in the field. When things are going easily and smoothly, there’s no problem looking out and taking care of self and others. Now, add the variable of stress, a deadline, or not being picked for the team and everything changes. I have seen when people have the ability to put their mask on first, the people around them are receptive and thrive.
Let me present you with my second phrase, “calm, cool, collected, and control the controllables.” For this to work you need to allow yourself to get used to being uncomfortable, putting yourself into situations which will require you to listen twice, ask questions, or run into speed bumps and dead ends. When you allow yourself to get into this mindset, you’re essentially learning how to put on your proverbial oxygen mask when upside down, dizzy, and light-headed. So, when the time arrives and there is chaos, uncertainty, and ambiguity, you will have the internal tools to say and stay calm, cool, and collected. Like most things worth working for, this is easier said than done. Instead of glossing your eyes over this, take a pen and paper right now and write down two things you want to do or learn. Allow these tasks to be in your growth zone. They should require you to do some research, reach out, and ask questions to the professionals.
This is inline with what we’ve been focusing for the past few weeks and months. We need to start by giving ourselves the tools to be successful and thrive in all situations. When we can learn to put on our own mask in pressure-filled situations, we allow ourselves to thrive, climb, and become stronger and stronger.
Using evidence-based practices can help and assist in reaching your goals and dreams in a safe and effective way.
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