Leading Through Challenging Times

My “do not disturb” is on. My timer is set. All of my tabs are closed down except the Google doc that I’m writing in.

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Today is a day when I have to pull out all of my tools to create space to write.

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When my anxiety goes up, my creative energy plummets. The flip side is that creativity helps me find some optimism and joy.

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In this current environment of chaos, uncertainty, and grief caused by the political environment and its wide-reaching impact on things that matter deeply to me, I am working to create an environment that allows the creativity to flow for at least a few moments in time.

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As leaders, we have a responsibility to show up for our teams, our organizations, and/or our clients while also navigating complex, real human experiences and the emotions that come with them.

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It’s no small undertaking.

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Let's acknowledge it and normalize it. I see you and I’m right here with you.

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And also - as we choose to show up for our work and our teams, we can do it in a way that honors our leadership and our humanity.

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We don’t have to “power through” or force it to happen. We can create systems, strategies, and space to work in a more aligned way and to hold space for others while navigating questions we don’t have answers for.

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Here are a few of things that I’m doing in the current moment:

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💖 Focusing on creating comfort at home - baking cookies and bread, doing food prep and roasting veggies, and getting my knitting back out, even though it feels late in my typical “knitting season.”

💖 Staying super clear on my priorities and limiting the extras so my capacity isn’t stretched any further than it needs to be.

💖 Sitting in a ton of gratitude for my clients and the work we are doing together. Client work is the part of my day that brings the most stability and flow. Thank goodness for that!

💖 Using tools that limit my distractions and help me stay focused - which is especially important when I’m feeling extra drawn to check my email and texts or open my news feed.

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Leadership is a big responsibility that feels even bigger in challenging times. That’s when we really need to embrace the human side of our roles, tend to our own needs, and intentionally set ourselves up for success as we serve our mission and those around us.

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Or, if you’re craving a supportive community with other leaders, consider joining us Wonder. It's specifically designed to provide a space to navigate challenges that don't have easy answers.