Everything Can Change in a Moment

There we were. Crowded in a stairwell watching live footage of the tornado touching down just up the street. Leaders were texting family, calling kids, checking on team members, and checking on one another. Nervous laughter, tears, and compassionate words echoed through the stairwell. 
 
It’s unreal how everything can change in a moment.

• During spring break, a few blocks from our hotel, we heard the sirens of the police racing towards the Denver High School in response to a shooting.

• In Nashville, family friends from MO lost their daughter in the school shooting.

• On Friday, tornados reigned down destruction and heartache to communities.

• Jobs can be lost.

• Key clients and can move on.

• Loved ones can hurt loved ones.

Everything important can change in a moment.
 
Last Friday was filled with distraction while I attempted to facilitate a session on Navigating Organizational and Personal Conflict. Schools were closing early, businesses were sending team members home and there we were watching the storm roll in from the 5th floor.
 
When in the stairwell no one wanted to talk about leading with Emotional Intelligence or developing Relationship Intelligence to be more effective leaders during challenge, conflict and crisis. In the stairwell priorities shifted. What was worthy of our time was no longer important at that time.
 
During crisis our priorities shift. We think about what’s most important and for most people – we aren’t thinking about our personal success at work. We think about our family, friends, and team members and check to make sure they are okay.
 
Our priorities shift. During times of crisis, we reach out to offer support, a lending hand, prayer, meals, clean-up, and/or an ear. During crisis, we come together in incredible ways to provide hope for humanity in the middle of tragedy.
 
Why does chaos cultivate a culture community even at work? This is a question that I’ve been processing for a few years and last Friday I had a front row seat.
 
During crisis, our priorities get a “forced” reset. When we perceive something as extremely important, we change our priorities to address it. Isn’t it amazing how resistant to change we can be and yet how quickly we can adjust and change when we choose?
 
Here’s what I’m thinking.
 
Let’s do a gut check on our priorities.

• Do you feel exhausted on a regular basis?

• Prioritize sleep, eat healthier food and exercise

• Do you feel overwhelmed like you can you never catch-up?

• Start prioritizing work and actually delegate.

• Do you feel shame for not spending enough time with your family?

• Schedule some dates and family dinners

• Do you feel regret for not investing enough time to develop your direct reports?

• Prioritize time for effective one on ones.

• Do you keep wondering when fitness will become a priority?

• Start taking the stairs at work and walking 10k steps a day

When that storm was rolling in, we could see it coming. We had time to adjust our approach. Right now, you are aware enough to know if some priorities are out of focus. You can feel the storm brewing. Take the time before the crisis to reset your priorities so you can love life at work and love life at home. If you need to set a coaching session to work through focusing on what’s most important, don’t wait for something to boil over. Let’s find focus now.

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