2 Ways to Be Water for the Thirsty
Tired people stagger through the desert looking for a drop of relief. Provide water.
Things that make people dry include navigating work relationships, meeting deadlines, delivering more with less, using resources efficiently, serving customers, pleasing higher ups, overseeing direct reports, having one-on-ones, keeping up with email, choosing priorities, training new people, doing performance evaluations, monitoring the numbers, and running meetings.
2 Ways to Be Water for the Thirsty
#1. Ask about pressure.
Instead of telling people you understand, ask them to talk about the pressures they feel.
- What’s your stress level on a scale of 1:10? One being you’re bored out of your mind and ten being your head is ready to explode.
- What is an acceptable level of stress on a scale of 1:10?
- What could you do today to move toward an acceptable level of stress?
Don’t assume you know how to solve everyone’s stress. Continue the conversation by asking…
- What are the most stressful parts of your job?
- What are you doing to manage those aspects of work?
- What else might help you manage the most stressful parts of your job?
- How can I help?
#2. Protect people from future snares.
An ancient proverb from the Hebrew Bible says, “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn from the snares of death.”
Experience anticipates snares. You see future challenges. Lift people above the dust of daily work and enable them to prepare for unanticipated challenges, ‘snares of death’.
Begin a conversation by saying, “Let’s prepare for some future challenges you’re going to face.” Preparing for future challenges gives meaning to daily difficulties. Think of athletes training for future events.
Use your experience to give people water before they die of thirst.
How can leaders be water for the thirsty?
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You cannot do more with less. You can only do less with less. The important thing is to help people decide what less needs to be done and what less can be pushed off or even skipped entirely.
Nice one, Jennifer. Pointing out things that matter less is speaking life into people who feel overwhelmed.
Leaders can do two things:
1. Help people reduce their demands (what’s on their plate)
2. Increase their coping skills (self-management skills, exercise, relaxation techniques.)
My article may be helpful for some.
https://corp.smartbrief.com/original/2023/07/the-formula-you-need-to-manage-stress
Wonderful article. Thanks, Paul.
How can leaders be water for the thirsty? Offer an occasional oasis. For example, “You’ve worked really hard on this. Pick a couple of people you want to celebrate with, and let me take all of you out to lunch.”
Food helps on many levels. Thanks, PetrosT.