Step 19: Soften Your Stance

Soften your stance to give yourself and
others more room to connect fully.

Heidi is a well-respected and powerful senior manager of a Fortune 500 corporation. She has risen to the top of every team she’s managed and is known to speak her mind when action is needed. Since she is a natural problem solver, people come to Heidi for solutions. Over the years, however, Heidi began to feel overwhelmed, and her relationships with co-workers and supervisors became difficult and stressed.

When Heidi learned she could soften her stance, she had a personal epiphany. Her natural inclination was to be vocal and outspoken, but she realized that she didn’t always need to share her thinking. Heidi realized she could pick and choose where and when to focus her energy. When she committed to not doing and saying her first impulse, others around her were able to step up. Within a month, Heidi's blood pressure went down, her happiness went up, and her relationships improved. Heidi discovered a new type of personal power. Remember that we learn the most by sharing ideas through collaboration rather than collision. 

This week, pay attention to the next time you’re asked to take action or you’re trying to get your point across. Pause, think, and try softening your stance. Notice how it shifts your energy and the energy between you and others.

To your best balanced life!

The Ambassador of Goodwill

This is an except from 21 Steps to Better Relationships. Find the rest of the message for this step and other steps for finding better balance at: 21stepstorelationships.com

Key 5: Strengths

Becoming aware of your strengths helps
you identify, develop, and share them.

Daniel enjoyed his job as field technician. Every week he was out on the road helping clients solve their technical problems. Over the years, Daniel had built a foundation of solid relationships with his clients and was continually bringing in new business. When it came time for Daniel’s boss to retire, Daniel was recommended to take his place. Daniel reluctantly accepted the position because he thought it might offer him a chance to learn new skills.

Within two weeks of starting in his new position, Daniel was feeling completely out of his element. The manager’s job was entirely different from his position as a field technician. He was in the office five days a week and his meetings were only with other executives and the people he managed. After completing a strengths assessment, Daniel discovered his biggest strength was not managing people, but interacting with customers. Daniel decided to meet with the CEO and ask for his old job back. Fortunately, another candidate was still available for the manager’s position, and Daniel went back to his old job. Daniel realized how being aware of his strengths had allowed him to be in a position that nurtured his well-being.

This week, think of something that you enjoy doing and that you do well. How often do you have the chance to do it? How can you add more of it to your work and life? For example, if you like graphic design and it’s not part of your job, perhaps you can add some graphics to your status reports, presentations, or meeting agendas? Or maybe there’s a chance for you to use your talents in a special event or project? Be willing to see how creative you can be about integrating your strengths and talents into what you already do.

To your best balanced life! 

The Ambassador of Goodwill

This is an except from 21 Keys to Work/Life Balance. Find the rest of the message for this key and other keys for finding better work/life balance at: 21keystoworklifebalance.com