Are you looking for tools to anticipate without anxiety? That’s what this article offers you!
Do you ever get tired of the number of changes around you? To feel like you’re in a whirlwind? Or, on the contrary, rather stopped or blocked?
Regardless of the situation, we all have a need to anticipate, on a more or less large scale depending on our personalities. And anticipating is often a source of anxiety, when it is not dosed!
Here you will find 3 key elements to anticipate without anxiety.
1. An anchor in order to anticipate without anxiety
First of all, when the environment is constantly changing around us, we look for an anchor. A pedestal. A support. We are looking for stability.
In times of uncertainty, what do you have control over?
- The external environment?
- The others?
- You?
Has. The external environment
The external environment can be a focus. Because you have no control over what happens in the environment, over the decisions of certain leaders or institutions, over the weather, over the seasons.
B. The others
You don’t have control over others either, but you can have an influence. You can ask for help, offer help, share a beautiful moment, etc.
C. You
The only thing under your control is yourself. You are your anchor, your foundation. That’s why we often hammer leaders to take care of themselves!
The more grounded you feel, the easier it is for you to control what you say, what you do, what you think. And vice versa. The more you focus on your area of control, the better you feel.
The first key to anticipating without anxiety is to focus on what you control.
In short: your areas of concern, influence and control allow you to anticipate without anxiety.
- Concerns: this is part of my context, I have no control over it.
- Influence: I don’t really have control, but I can influence in order to change things.
- Control: In the current situation, I control this: my choices, my words, my attitude, my feelings, my beliefs, my actions. It’s my personal power zone!
*inspired by the model of circles of influence by Stephen Covey, author of “The 7 habits of those who achieve everything they do”
Brought back to the business world, as a leader: focus on your areas of control and influence. This will give you less time to be concerned about what you don’t control.
Spend your time and energy consciously:
- 80% on what you control
- 20% on what you can influence
- 0% on what you can’t control!
If you need tips to feel more in control, go read my 10 tips to regain control of your schedule. Also take 1 or 2 hours of quality and review or do the online training on stress and emotion management or energy management.
Coach’s question:
- What do you have control over and can you focus on today?
- Who can you influence and what will you put in place today?
- Who is making you feel good and what are you going to do to connect with that person today?
- What concerns are undermining you and what are you letting yourself go?
2. An entourage to anticipate without anxiety
Secondly, the key to anticipating without anxiety is to be well surrounded. As a leader, you know the value of being well surrounded, I’m sure of it! Healthy, complementary relationships bring joy despite life’s ups and downs.
As much as we need a solid foundation, for ourselves and within us. As much as we need a social and/or family circle that has a positive impact on us.
And since you have full control over your actions, connect as much as possible with the people who make you feel good. Ideally every day or several times a week.
Connecting with someone else is a scientifically proven stress-relieving factor through the hormones it generates.
As soon as you feel isolated, your brain starts spinning? Exit. Get some fresh air. Say hello. Smile. Call someone who makes you feel good, just to connect.
Coach’s question:
- Who will you take 5 minutes with today to connect?
The second key to anticipating without anxiety is to connect daily or several times a week with people who make us feel good.
This second key is just as important as the first. To anticipate without anxiety, you should not isolate yourself. You have to talk, connect, with relationships of trust, be able to be yourself with someone who listens, with whom it is possible to de-dramatize, to have fun, to offer help.
As a leader, forge satisfying business relationships and know how to surround yourself positively inside and outside your organization.
3. Achievements in order to anticipate in order to anticipate
The third key is just as essential as the previous two.
It is in action that concerns disappear.
You can read books for 5 years on how to snowboard, or how to better manage your time, but nothing concrete will happen until you’re in action.
As long as you don’t snowboard down a trail or set your limits to make better use of your time, you won’t see any changes. I bet it will even increase anxiety and the desire to be perfect. Or it will discourage you and you will give up.
The same goes for things that concern you professionally. It needs to be taken care of ?
Make this call. Make that decision. Dare to get out of your head to take action.
The most common problem I see when it comes time to take action is that the step is too high. All of a sudden, following a decision, people want everything, right now.
Small steps lead to success.
Like what
I want to run 10 km, I’ve never run in my life. I’ve read books, I have the best equipment.
Day 1: I stubbornly run 10 km, I get injured or I don’t feel so well that I won’t do that again in my life!
Please do not run 10 km. Instead, have a plan that promotes success. Step by step.
There are running experts who will tell you to start in this way, then do another stage, another distance and in x weeks you will be able to do a successful 10 km.
Get support to get out of your comfort zone and go further!
The 3rd key to anticipating without anxiety is to be in action, intelligently.
Successes create energy, confidence and have a positive impact in general. Why deprive yourself of it?
Coach’s question
- What is it that is currently scared, worrying or weighing you down?
- How can you break this down into a concrete action plan?
- What action of this plan can you do today (which is entirely under your control)?
The following article, under the theme of anticipation, offers two tools to prioritize and ensure the success of projects. Read the article Anticipating in times of uncertainty and learn about flags and the premortem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, to anticipate without anxiety, take care of yourself, others and your belongings. Be in action diligently, intelligently, while staying focused on what you control.
Always stay in “solution mode”. That is, try to find what you can control and influence.
Always remember that you are a social being and that you need to connect with others, in person, not just virtually.
