When challenges arise…
In my last post, I shared the five most important actions for you, as the leader, to take to decrease the number of challenges you have with your team at work. I also shared how there will always be challenges. I wish I could tell you otherwise.
How can challenges still arise after carefully ensuring a strong foundation?
I have some thoughts on that. Three, to be exact.
First of all, mistakes will always happen – because no one is perfect. We need to expect mistakes and be ready with our preferred response.
Secondly, nothing is ever static; things are continually changing. Some things change faster than other things.
Thirdly, conflict will always occur – because we are unique, each and every one of us. We have different genetics, socioeconomic factors, and different life experiences, as simply stated by Dr. Faye Begeti.
Since we are unique for all of those reasons, then it is no wonder that my reality is going to be different from your reality.
I love how Dr. Ellen Langer makes this point:
“In his charming book Exercises in Style, Raymond Queneau retells a simple story about two men meeting on a bus from different perspectives. You might think that since there are two people involved in the encounter there would be only two perspectives, but Queneau tells the tale from ninety-nine different perspectives. While I’m not suggesting we try to see situations in so many ways, realizing it is possible allows us to see there is not a single reality shared by us all.”
And those ninety-nine different perspectives can lead to conflict if we are not careful – or even if we are careful.
I have just provided you three reasons why challenges are bound to occur. But what then, you might ask?
Let’s consider how we can be prepared.
Let’s start with what we can influence.
We can keep our finger on the pulse on the essentials, and get curious by checking on what has changed vis á vis the essentials.
Have the end results changed?
Has there been a change in the equipment, tools, technology or data?
Have there been new additions or changes to the team which impact what they do and what they need to know?
Have there been noticeable changes in your team members which are clearly impacting their performance?
Are there external factors affecting your business, your work, your team’s work or how salary and benefits are handled or offered?
Keep in mind how this last point highlights the importance of recognizing what we can influence and what we can’t. For things we can’t influence, then we need to consider our response to those things – that is the only thing we can control.
What else can we influence?
When there is conflict, we can dig beneath that conflict, from a previous journal post, with the questions for both the person involved and then we can decide what we can change or control to help that individual show up at their best – as well as ourselves.
Don’t lose heart here – just remember the only thing you can control is how you respond to challenges and to influence everything else in a way that brings out everyone’s best.
Can you do that? I know you can!
Resources
Begeti, Faye. 2024. The Phone Fix. London, UK: Head of Zeus Ltd. (p. 19 of 356)
Langer, Ellen. 2024. The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health. New York: Ballantine Group. (p. 66 of 283)
Image by Tammy Brimner
