Hitting Turbulence?

In my recent work with clients, I’ve seen some unexpected challenges that could potentially throw these leaders off course.

It seems things were running smoothly until they hit turbulence.

Anyone who flies understands that turbulence, while annoying, is a normal part of flying. Sometimes you can predict it. Other times, it occurs without warning.

Business Turbulence

Turbulence is also a natural part of business — and life. It can be a disruptive force that looks like any of the following:

• The employee who quit unexpectedly
• The important talk you’ve just been told you must give tomorrow
• The computer that crashed
• The client project that got put on hold
• The funding source you lost
• The micromanager who is too involved in your work
• The mass mailing that went out with blatant errors

Sound familiar? You could probably name something that happened in the last week or so that shook you up, made you mad or jeopardized your results.

Personal Turbulence

Personal turbulence strikes when you’re forced to deal with family, relationship or personal problems, mental or physical health issues. When coupled with business challenges, the stress can be overwhelming.

Internal Turbulence

Internal turbulence is the disruptive “self talk” that rattles around inside your head — that makes you doubt yourself, question your ability or assume the worst. It zaps your confidence.

Many of my clients who exhibit signs of internal turbulence put too much pressure on themselves. They have high expectations and standards for their success. They strive for perfection — and fear failure. They find it difficult to relax.

When clients hit turbulence, here is some of the advice I give to help them through it:

• Remain calm. Remember turbulence is normal. While it’s important to have positive expectation, accept that gremlins may appear. When you see them, acknowledge their presence (“Hello, gremlin.”) instead of panicking. The more important the desired outcome, the bigger the monster that might try to get in your way. Be ready.

• Capture your learning. What are you learning? If you’re not reflecting on what you’re learning as you deal with difficulty, you run the risk of repeating the problem. Process your learning. Keep moving.

• Get clear perspective. To deal effectively with whatever is in your way, find a person or people you can turn to for feedback and perspective. You’re likely magnifying the issue — seeing a mountain instead of a molehill.

• Seek growth. Where there is adversity, there is opportunity for growth. The more serious you are about growing yourself or your business, the more you will encounter growing pains. Those pains can be an impetus for needed change.

• Remind yourself of past successes. Chances are the difficulties you’re facing have surfaced in some form before. You have worked through them in the past. You will again.

Fly high! When you hit turbulence, work on your resilience. You’ll reach better destinations. 

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