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Leading Through Challenges

Guest post by: Dave Ferguson

Article Overview: Today, we are facing many challenges in our business and personal lives. As leaders, these challenges come at us constantly and to be effective we must ensure we are “doing the right things” to lead through them. Sometimes challenges come at us, like a storm that comes from nowhere on a summer evening, and you’re in the middle of a lake (not that it’s ever happened to me).

Leading Through Challenges

Today, we are facing many challenges in our business and personal lives. As leaders, these challenges come at us constantly and to be effective we must ensure we are “doing the right things” to lead through them. Sometimes challenges come at us, like a storm that comes from nowhere on a summer evening, and you’re in the middle of a lake (not that it’s ever happened to me).

When these storms approach, we have options to choose from. They basically come down to sinking, staying the course, or fighting through it. In my experience, coaching people through tough times, I’ve come up with a few sure-fire ways to empower leaders through the storms of challenges that come their way:

· Make challenges positive: If you can focus on the positive and not the negative, overcoming a challenge can be one of those times in your life where you used all your resources, inspired others, and lead through what could have been a tough time. Don’t panic and keep it positive! Steer clear of negativity.

· Don’t react, direct: Many people have emotions stored-up that come out at times of crisis. Some of these emotions are based on certain fears that control how you react. Break these chains and take control of the direction you take through tough challenges. Hold the wheel and steer through them. I’ve done some really fun things with clients to break fears and along the way, I broke some too!

· Examine how you talk to yourself: Having confidence in yourself is critical when you are facing challenges. Some people think I’m crazy when they see me chanting my affirmations in the gym, each morning, but they work for me. They can work for you too. Affirmations are simply statements about yourself to keep you positive and focused. Write them down and carry them with you everywhere you go. If you say them several times a day for a few weeks, you won’t have to carry them with you anymore…you’ll own them. Talk yourself through the storm. If you need help creating some, call me.

· Learn from challenges: It’s at times of challenges that we truly find out who we are. Challenges can educate us or destroy us. Choose to learn from the challenges you face by allowing yourself to come out of your normal comfort zone and getting uncomfortable. Is there risk coming out of your comfort zone, yes? But who wants to be stuck in a zone that keeps us numb from pain or pleasure. Step out, learn, and live.

· Examine who’s on your team: It only takes one player on a team to rock the boat. Examine the people you surround yourself with and if they are negative, jealous, or spiteful, I recommend you put some distance between you and them. It’s possible your success not only intimidates them but makes them feel like a failure. If it’s an employee, fire them. If it’s a family member, tread lightly, but still distance yourself. Ignore the negative people in your life and you’ll immediately attract more positive people. Make sure your boat mates are team players.

· Get creative: Think outside the box, call on your close advisors and mentors, call in your positive support group, or get a coach to help. Being creative when faced with a challenge, will allow you to examine it from a place you possibly haven’t been to before. Think beyond the obvious and venture beyond what you’re accustomed to. You don’t have to face challenges alone!

Challenges, like anything else, can be managed. We can either let them control us or we can lead through them successfully. In essence, we can either sink or swim. If you use the tips I’ve given you today, I believe you’ll not only build greater confidence, but you’ll also be able to lead through any storm that challenges create for you. I cover this in great detail in my Leadership Boot Camps. Give me a call if you interested in attending an upcoming one.

Have a great week and thanks for reading my blog. I appreciate you!

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Article Tags: business, challenges, economy, finance, leadership, learning, personal lives, small business, success



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