Plan A

Things are moving fast, and there are only so many hours in a day. You are running your business, planning for grad parties (maybe hosting, maybe attending), wedding season is upon us. The last few weeks of school always made me crazy (along with the first two weeks, holiday breaks, spirit weeks - IYKYK). All the things you need to get through so you can breathe again keep delaying the deep breath you are no longer sure is coming.

Our bodies weren't made for this kind of chaos and constant swirling.

When you do a good job at work - you get to do more work. Honestly, I think if you do a good job, you should get a day off - but that's why I am no longer employable, so I don't recommend thinking about that too hard unless you are self employed. [If you are looking to launch your own thing - I am happy to chat - it's a good gig!]

So amid the insanity of life, and work, and the world - often the first thing to go is clear, thoughtful communication.

Think about the last time you snapped at your kids, your spouse, or your dog - it was during a moment you felt out of control, right? That's communication under pressure, friend. And it usually does more harm than good.

After you snap, you spend time apologizing, feeling guilty and end up more behind than before. PLUS, it makes the next interaction with the person on the other end of your outburst less able to hear what you say - no matter how well you say it. I've been working hard to find a way to stop the frenzy BEFORE I snap at someone who doesn't deserve it - or avoid telling that truth to the ones who do need a good shouting at (HA).

Having a plan, a process, a habit makes those moments of tension easier to handle - because you can lean back on something routine and memorable. So it's important to know what that anchor is before the frazzled last nerve explodes.

Here's what I tell leaders when we work together. Have a plan.

That's it. Doesn't have to be fancy, or digitized, or in an expensive software package. Just have a plan. Start simple.

Here's what I like to call Plan A: Acknowledge, Anchor, Action.

Acknowledge - this is the current state - whatever that is. It's a fact - try to accept it.

Anchor - realize you can't change it all - or you already would have. There are probably some things that don't matter much anyway.

Action - doing something (even if it's just focusing on plan A) will help you move through the moment with some clarity and calm.

Structure invites calm. And if you think about what will matter in 5 minutes, 5 days, or 5 months from now - most of the stuff that riles us up won't matter in a few minutes. So just breathe and move along.

If you have change coming to your world and would like a solid plan in place to stop the panic, speculation, and keep everyone working through the chaos (and even without disruptive transitions - things like AI, gas prices, and grocery bills add stress) - reach out. This is what I do! I can help.