Richman: For just one day, let it all go
Richman: For just one day, let it all go
She’s too smart, so she makes you feel stupid.
He’s too quiet, so you don’t know what he’s thinking.
She won’t shut up, so she won’t let you think.
He thinks so much, it seems he doesn’t care.
She cares so much, it seems she doesn’t think.
It’s just never good enough, is it? You’re either too much of this or too little of that, and you want to just be left alone to do your job.
I hear you. I get calls every day from people who are on edge with the stress they’re feeling at work, at home and from the news. They want a break, so let’s give them one.
In fact, give yourselves a break, too. For one day, let it all go. Let go of the finger-pointing, head-shaking and eye-rolling — they only make it harder on everyone to be creative, productive and successful. For just one day, stop competing against each other and start collaborating with each other. Instead of finding fault, find value. Give up these sentiments:
I don’t trust her.
He doesn’t trust me.
We don’t trust them.
They don’t trust us.
For just one day, trust somebody and see how it feels. Trust that no one is trying to do you in, stab you in the back, steal your ideas or make your life miserable.
For this one day, be OK with yourself and the people you work with. Be OK with your boss and the company that still writes the checks.
Model behavior that builds up and doesn’t tear down. So ...
• Talk about what people need to hear before you talk about what you want to say.
• Get tough on problems and go easy on people.
• Be strong without having to make others weak.
• Be right without acting self-righteous.
• If you made the wrong call, own it, fix it, learn from it and say so.
• Separate the wrong call from being wrong, and the right call and being right.
• Separate who you are from what you do.
• Let the baggage go.
If you’re the boss, get out of your office, find your employees, talk to them and listen to what they have to say. They want you to know how stressed they are, so let them. They want you to say where “next” is, so tell them. It’s your job to set the tone and the direction. If you don’t have answers to the questions they ask, say so, and answer the important questions they haven’t asked. They want to have a picture of the problem and they want a part to play in the solution. Give it to them.
Wherever you work, show up, stand up and step up. Prioritize objectives, focus on what you can control and take action. Ask questions, find answers and, if there aren’t any available, take the lead, put together a plan and work that plan until you find them. Because, when it comes down to it, you’re the one accountable for your own future.
Joyce Richman is a speaker and career coach conducting seminars and workshops throughout the United States, and the author of “Roads, Routes & Ruts: A Guidebook for Career Success.” You can reach her at 288-1799 or JERichman@aol.com. Watch Richman’s latest career advice Wednesdays at 6:35 a.m. during “The Good Morning Show” on WFMY News 2. You can find this column online by visiting TriadCareers.com/whois/joyce_richman.
