How to Consciously Lead Through the Most Stressful Day of 2020 🗳
Conscious leaders focus on vision and hope instead of drama and fear
Feeling stressed today? You’re not alone. A recent survey found that two-thirds of Americans feel the 2020 Election is a significant source of stress in their life. Another study found 55% of respondents believe November 3, 2020 will be the most stressful day of their life. These are fascinating statistics considering 2020 has been a year of immense uncertainty and disruption, which led to heightened stress and fear.
Election Day feels like the peak of 2020’s cumulative stress and anxiety. While most elections feel important, the circumstances of this particular one make it feel like the future of the nation is hanging on this one election. The division and anger in the country is palpable.
So how can conscious leaders lead themselves and their team through this tumultuous time? It’s important for leaders to acknowledge their teams are stressed and that on Election Day emotions will heightened as the country waits to see who will guide the nation forward.
Here are some conscious leadership concepts to help:
Center Yourself
You can’t help others effectively if you haven’t prepared yourself. What are the habits or rituals that help you center yourself? Some leaders like mindfulness, meditation or gratitude. Others exercise or create art. Self-care practices like taking a hot bath or getting a massage are other ways to relax. Conscious leaders become aware of when they’re losing energy. The key is to find those things that help you maintain high levels of energy without slipping into fear or anxiety.
Step Out of the Drama
It feels like every major election we’re told “this is the election of our lifetime.” In an increasingly polarized culture, it feels true. But in an historical context, whatever happens, we will all be ok. We need to step back from the drama and look at the situation from an authentic, fear-free place. Right now it seems like everything depends on one event. But submerging ourselves in the drama means we aren’t able to be rational and look at the big picture. By stepping out of the drama, you will feel relaxed, optimistic, and able to make solid decisions in leading yourself and your team.
Consider Every Challenge an Opportunity
Sometimes changing our perspective is all we need to do to move through a challenging situation. Every problem or challenge present opportunity. How can you and your team shift into a different perspective? Whoever ends up governing, there will be opportunities to innovate, disrupt and grow. Start game planning now. What are the different scenarios you may face? How could you leverage each of them? When we feel a situation is out of control, often times the most powerful thing we can do is look at what is in our control and start from there. Look for the opportunities.
Care for Your Team’s Mental Wellbeing
In the traditional workplace, there is often an emotional wall that exists between personal and professional. That means employees often mask their struggles so they can protect their professional reputation. But living a bifurcated life isn’t sustainable. The emotional turmoil precipitated by COVID has opened up powerful conversations in the workplace. Leaders now recognize they can’t ask employees to be like robots. Moving forward, we will see more conscious leadership that invites people to bring their whole selves to their work.
So today, make space for your team to share how they’re handling all the drama around them. Make it a safe place where people can talk about how it’s impacting their work and life. Then make sure you have resources you can share to help them if the assistance they need is beyond your capacity to provide in a team call. Sometimes simply holding space for others can shift their energy so they can energetically reengage in their work and life.
Regardless of the election results, the most important thing we can do is focus on BE-ing the change we want to see in the world. Do you want to see less violence? Then work on your own anger and fear. Do you want to see less greed? Then work on your charity and service to others. Do you want to see more civility in political discourse? Then practice being civil in everyone one of your conversations and interactions with others.
Work happy. Live happy. BE happy.
Meredith
J.D., CPC, ELI-MP
The way we work and build teams is rapidly changing. Leaders often feel unprepared to navigate the transition. As a conscious leadership coach, consultant and communicator, Meredith helps leaders and their teams create new ways of working and relating so they can prepare for the future by consciously co-creating it.
Contact her to develop your conscious leadership and transform your organization into the workplace of the future.
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