6 Figure Career Management

To coincide with National Stress Awareness Day in the UK tomorrow, Wednesday 5th November, I’m pleased to have a guest article below from an international expert on executive stress - Carole Spiers

After twenty years as a stress consultant to blue-chip companies, I could fill about half the internet with my reflections about the present credit-crunch and the countless workplace stressor-elements we can expect to see afflicting everyone right up to boardroom level, in the coming weeks and months.

Instead, let me pinpoint just five less-known stress-symptoms which I believe we shall see bulking-up over the coming months, for all of which there are formal training initiatives for HR staff as part of the stress-management agenda.

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“I have to go to work today…”
“I have to go to the gym today…”
“I have to go to vote today…”

What if you were to replace all of your “Have To’s” with “Get To’s”…? So the above statements became:

“I get to go to work today!
With so many people being have been laid off this year, I am priveleged to be able to go to work. I have the opportunity to do something of value for clients, colleagues and the local community - no matter how small. I have the opportunity to learn and grow in some way - and get paid for it too!”

“I get to go to the gym today!
I’m so fortunate to have all my limbs in good working order and be in relatively good health. I get to go play in the pool or have fun in a class or run on a treadmill whilst listening to my favourite music. It would be an insult to people with disabilities for me not to excercise”

“I get to vote today!
Unlike certain groups from previous generations, unlike people in certain parts of the world today - I am in the priveleged position of being able to vote today. So many people have made sacrifices to be able to vote. How can I not go and vote today?”

If you’re struggling to get moving - making some small changes to your langauge can be very empowering.

When you replace your “have to’s” with “get to’s”, life becomes less of a chore and much more fun. You become more grateful and get inspired to take action. Actions which in turn get you results.

When large numbers of people start making small changes to their language and taking action - that’s when we start seeing big changes in the world.

“Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above them.”

Washington Irving, 1783-1859, Author

“We’re all f****d!”…… “We’re screwed…”…..”It’s all over”
 
That’s a series of statements I’ve heard in recent weeks when talking to people across the financial services industry about their career prospects over the coming year.

 Whilst the statements reflect the level of anxiety and nervousness caused by what we have seen in the markets, the banking sector and the economy in recent weeks, they are based on the (false) belief that your level of success is solely reliant on what happens in the environment. That you and your career are merely pawns in the events around you.

The truth is that your success is based on how you choose to REACT to what happens to you and the environment around you - not on what events do to you.

Over the coming months, you have two broad choices to make - are you going to act or are you going to be acted upon.  

a) Choose To Act

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Are you ‘stuck’ in a career you dislike?

Do you want to change careers but feel ‘tied’ due to the salary you earn within financial services? Do you sometimes get excited by the idea of doing something completely different – but then find yourself (or others) talk you out of doing anything about it?

If this sounds like you, then you need to shut down that brain of yours and stop listening so much to the people around you. You need to stop planning ahead and just focus on taking some baby steps to get you unstuck. Once unstuck, you’re in a much better place to push on with any type of change.

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 “Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.”
- John Allen Paulos (Writer and Speaker)

Over the last 2 years I have been learning comedy improvisation with the excellent London-based theatre company and corporate trainers, The Spontaneity Shop.  I have performed in about 5 shows so far and it’s been great fun.

But whilst I’ve really enjoyed it, it’s not something I have found easy.

You see, in a work environment, I can deal with change, think on my feet and “wing it” with the best of them. But when it comes to walking the uncertain tight-rope of comedy improvisation - on stage with no script and absolutely no idea what will happen next - I’ve found it challenging and consequently been a slow learner.

But earlier this year, I finally started to ‘get it’.

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That’s a phrase I coined whilst recruiting for a creative and entrepreneurial investment firm.

The firm was set up to be fluid and nimble so that it could respond to the needs of the market and it’s clients much faster - which in turn gave it an edge verses it’s competitors. All of which meant constant change and shifting of priorities as the market and client requirements changed.

So for the people working there, it meant having to deal with ongoing ambiguity and change every day. And to work there, they had to get used to being uncomfortable. More over, to succeed in that environment it was a critical requirement that they could cope with the change and learn to become ‘comfortable with being uncomfortable’.

That’s precisely what people currently working in the financial services sector (and beyond) need to be to be right now - comfortbable with being uncomfortable.

As the goal posts keep shifting, there is constant change and ambiguity – which means you’d better get used to all the uncertainty and the level of discomfort which goes with it. In fact, to truly thrive in times of change and uncertainty, becoming comfortable being uncomfortable gives you an edge.

This is a new era in the world of work. An era where things will keep changing constantly - so get used to being comfortable in times of uncertainty and you’ve mastered the ability to succeed in the new economy. 

  “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”

- Aristotle

Now that summer has ‘officially’ ended, it’s time for back-to-school, back to work and the start of a new season. 

As I mentioned in my newsletter article this week, September often signals a time of change for many people. And similar to new years resolutions, people begin September with new intentions and new habits.

At a personal level you may have decided to stop smoking, start going to the gym more, sleep earlier, leave work earlier.

At a professional level you may have decided to work fewer hours, say “no” more often or spend more time networking to improve your visibility.

If you’re currently looking for jobs, you may have decided to start your job search activities early in the morning each day or maybe to contact 5 people a day or even a habit of staying positive on a day to day basis. 

But like so many resolutions, the likelihood is that you won’t stick to them. After the initial enthusiasm, they will fizzle out and you’ll be back where you started.   

But it doesnt have to be that way if you follow some simple rules of developing any lasting habit:

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