7 Simple Things That Strengthen Clarity During Complexity
When complexities fill your mind, worry weakens your knees. Complexity drives out clarity. Shadows become reality.
Dread dilutes ability.
Anxiety displaces confidence.
Feeling overwhelmed is inevitable when complexity banishes simplicity.
Any fool can make easy things difficult.
7 simple things that strengthen clarity during complexity:
#1. Start the day slowly.
Take 10 or 15 minutes to smell the coffee, breathe, pray, read, or journal.
Choose how to show up. Close your eyes and imagine your best self in meetings and conversations.
Listen to rock n roll music. Starting slowly might be loud for some, but don’t let loud be distraction.
#2. Turn outward with empathy.
Problems invite you to become the center of the universe. Choose to forget yourself. Shine the light on others instead of hoping others will focus on you.
#3. Stop fixing everything.
The need to fix everything creates stress and multiplies complexity.
You don’t need all the answers to practice curiosity during complexity.
Let yourself be interested in another person’s challenges instead of being overwhelmed with fixing everything.
#4. Notice trajectory.
Ask yourself, “Where is this conversation going?” Notice if you’re moving forward, backward, or in circles.
When conversation moves in the wrong direction, change your words.
What intention is behind your conversation? Remind yourself to care.
What’s one simple thing – you can do – that moves people toward engagement and ownership?
#5. Monitor energy.
How might you be a person who energizes people?
Do hard stuff when you’re most energized.
#6. Finish something.
#7. Remember the good.
Tell people you’re glad they’re on the team.
Bad is stronger than good. Faults and frailties cause you to forget talent and strengths.
Signal:
Confusion is a signal to focus on things within your control.
Allow complexity to drive you toward simplicity. But be warned. Simplicity takes more work than complexity.
What simple things might strengthen clarity during complexity?
What’s the simplest next step?
This really spoke to me today. I just lost a key, very tenured employee and I’m kind of freaking out. We are now very short-staffed and lacking key knowledge. And I am imagining the worst of everything! I think I will likely need to read this every morning for awhile.
Thanks Julie. Wow! It really stings when you lose a key player. Breathe deep! Breath deep! 😉 Best wishes.
Dan,
Came across this today. may shed some light for others.
If you Fail, never give up because “F.A.I.L. means “First Attempt in Learning”
END is not the END, In fact E.N.D. means “Effort Never Dies”.
If you get NO as an answer, Remember N.O Means “Next Opportunity”.
Thank you “Lonnie Harkins” for positive post on LinkedIN, just had to share for others.
I found these as the Simplest next step.
Wow…love this Tim. Thanks for taking time to share! My favorite is N.O. means “Next Opportunity.”
Dan,
Thanks for sharing your wisdom. Always needed. Some people love to hear themselves talk others don’t hear what they’re saying. #4. will help a lot if you can take yourself out of the confusion and see the conversation for what it is. Hurt people want to hurt people. Asking them why they said what you heard can cause them to get out of battle mode and reassess where they’re comming from. If I could add to Tim’s acronyms, FEAR. False Evidence Appearing Real.
Like you said. Just breathe.
Simplicity takes more work than complexity was a good hint on how challenging it can get to make things simpler. Thanks Dan.
He has named many of the issues we deal with – and so succinctly. I’m going to use some of his language in a marketing piece for us.
Linda