The thing about stress, overwhelm and burnout that’s imperative to understand is that at some point, the MORE we work, the less productive we become. I call this the Law of Diminishing S.O.B.’s. It’s like trying to scale an ever-increasing incline or a run up an exponential curve – eventually, you’re just falling backwards.
Read MoreWhen strengthening your core in order to defeat the enemies of stress, overwhelm and burnout a mindset shift is necessary in order to be successful. Think of it as a change in strategy – if you’ve been defeated by the S.O.B. in the past, you’ll need to rethink your game plan in order to be successful in the future.
Read MoreSimply deciding to eliminate stress isn’t enough. It’s too simple, not specific and will ultimately fail. Just like New Year’s resolutions that statistically are abandoned by January 12 – trying to build a new habit without specifics will not bring the results you’re looking for.
Read MoreYou’re probably familiar with the “fight of flight” reactions to stressful situations, but recently another common response is being researched and understood more and more: Freeze. This is an increasingly common answer to perceived threats, especially among people dealing with our least favorite foes: Stress, Overwhelm and Burnout – that sneaky S.O.B. Freezing in stressful situations (or perceived stressful situations) is akin to…well, freezing.
Read MoreThere’s no shortage of information about how to combat stress, overwhelm and burnout so why is it that most people seem to be stuck in a cycle, convinced “that’s just the way it is”? Many of us sit as unhappy prisoners for years without realizing that the door was never locked – we were always free to leave.
Read MoreThe sneakiest trick played by our S.O.B. (Stress, Overwhelm and Burnout) enemy is that it cuts you off from your most important tool – your mind. It keeps you confused and flustered so you forget who the real enemy is and start to feel as though the way you feel is normal, or simply “the way things are”. This S.O.B. is like an abusive partner, manipulating and gas-lighting you into thinking you’re the one who’s crazy – not the other way around.
Read MoreWhen left unaddressed, stress, overwhelm and burnout (S.O.B.) can be deadly killers. There has been solid research on this for decades, yet we continue to ignore this information at personal, organizational, and societal levels. It’s as though we’ve been given the blueprints, materials, and tools to create a beautiful home, but we decide it’s too much work and we’d rather live in an apartment infested with black mold. The apartment – our current way of living – will definitely have negative effects on our health, but moving is too big of a hassle.
Read MoreA leader’s journey has two distinct parts: the inner and the outer. These can be difficult to reconcile. It’s like balancing shakily on a tightrope while trying to perform brain surgery. During your career, your outer journey will be easily visible to others. You move from your training to a technical expert to a manager to an executive. Along the way you’re using, perfecting and gaining valuable skills. But becoming a true leader amidst career growth, is an inner journey that’s difficult to categorize or observe.
Read MoreIf you’re going to be a successful leader in the twenty-first century and beyond, you’ll need to be aware of three long-term trends. Awareness, acceptance and integration of them will be a huge help in avoiding the scary S.O.B. (Stress, Overwhelm and Burnout) we’re working to avoid. Our S.O.B. would prefer to keep you in the dark and would rather you weren’t aware of these trends, like a nasty villain that keeps our hero in the dark.
Read MoreThese past few months have seen an incredible rise in stress, overwhelm, and burnout among healthcare workers and leaders in particular. We’re facing unprecedented times and working in extremely difficult situations. While it’s easy to blame the global pandemic, over the next few months here on our blog, we’ll be diving deep and getting up close and personal with our real enemy.
Read MoreA surface-level search of the interwebs will show you at first glance that there’s a lot of positivity behind the word “authentic”. But a deep dive reveals a more nuanced look at the word and how it’s come to be perceived in our society today. Generally, people want others to be “authentic” by staying “true to themselves” or “speaking their mind”, but in the workplace? This isn’t always the best strategy to boost your career, build long-lasting relationships, or successfully lead your team.
Read MoreThe past two months have seen a metaphorical tsunami of people transitioning to remote working conditions. Implemented practically overnight - calculated plans to transition to remote work gradually over the next three years have been haphazardly thrown together in less than 3 weeks. Luckily, 74% of CFO’s are quick to notice the advantages of working remotely and considering making the transition permanent even after the pandemic comes to an end.
Read MorePerhaps you’ve wondered, “What do leaders actually get paid for?” Day to day, not many people think about this seriously. It’s part of the “things are the way they are” 19th century corporate culture. It’s accepted. Bosses, CEO’s, managers -- they all get paid more because well….they do.
Read MoreThe current pandemic is turning all of our attention towards telehealth. Many healthcare professionals are figuring out the ropes for the very first time. Or perhaps your organization already uses telehealth to some extent, but it’s not very efficient or effective. You’re wondering constantly how to lead your team safely through more remote options, and scrambling to make changes quickly and decisively.
Read MoreIs leading a team remotely different than leading your team in person? So many teams, both in the healthcare industry and many others, have transitioned to remote work-from-home situations within the past month. Workplaces have new protocols in place and employees are fielding new expectations from both ends.
Read MoreMost teams are working remotely these days, many for the first time. Whether your team has recently been rushed into a remote work situation without much time to plan or prep or you’ve been leading a remote team for years, you may not fully realize how different working remotely is to being in a traditional office space.
Read MoreCongratulations and give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. You’ve made the decision to pursue visionary leadership in your organization, engage your team, and give your career a welcome boost! And more than that, you’re seeking out information to keep you from making mistakes and streamline the process. As a leadership coach of executive healthcare leaders, I can tell you with certainty that this will serve you extremely well in the long run. When I begin coaching new clients, we always begin with a lot of background work.
Read MoreThe word vision seems to be reverberating throughout the business and self-help world constantly this year. Vision boards. Vision summits. Vision statements. Vision vision vision. It can be a little much. And unfortunately, when a word is overused, it begins to lose it’s meaning, becoming watered-down and less potent with each article you ingest.
Read MoreAs a healthcare leader, chances are your team is often less engaged than you’d like. No matter what new trend you try or system you implement, it still feels like people don’t take initiative or understand what you want from them. And likely, this is negatively affecting your performance as well, creating stress and overwhelm and culminating in a less-than-ideal work environment. This can lead to a sense of helplessness.
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