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26
I
Nonprofit
Performance
Magazine
W
hen it comes to productivity,
we often let the stress of things
that are out of our control derail us,
producing additional stress. This can
turn into a downward spiral that is
difficult to reverse. As an Extreme
Focus™ Certified Mental Performance
Coach, I help people manage this kind
of stress so that ultimate performance
is achieved.
In our coaching methods, we use animal
instincts to trigger right behavior for
maximum performance. The koala bear
represents maintaining composure and
control, a key component to effectively
managing stressful situations. Koala bears
never get flustered.They take things one step
at a time.
Our koala bear is named OHWEL™.
This reminds us that in challenging times,
particularly where things appear to be outside
our control, we can look at the situation and
say “Oh well” or we can throw ourselves
into a negative headspace and say “Oh hell.”
Remember that it’s not the things that
happen to us that define us, but rather how
we handle them. Saying “Oh well” may not
solve the problem right away, but it puts you
into position to solve the problem. On the
flip side, if you say “Oh hell,” things tend to
continue going south, and the negative energy
you add prevents your moving forward.
It’s important to remember that whatever
stressful situations arise are an opportunity for
learning and growth. With a proper mindset,
you can get into the practice of enjoying the
battle of your day-to-day experiences. Your
perspective, in large part, determines your
success, and you can shift your attitude to see
the positive that can come from any situation
or circumstance. On the journey toward
success, you’ll undoubtedly come upon
detours that you need to navigate, but you can
learn to maneuver around these obstacles to
get you back on the main pathway.
It’s the lens through which you view your
circumstances that determines your success.
Glenn Llopis, contributing writer for Forbes,
shares the following as it relates to leadership
and maintaining composure under pressure:
The 21st century leader sees adversity through
the lens of opportunity. Rather than panic, a
leader with composure takes a step back and
begins to connect the dots of opportunity
within adverse circumstances. These types of
leaders quickly detect the causes of adversity
and solve for them immediately. They then
enable the opportunities previously unseen
that could have avoided the adversity to
begin with. Many times crisis results when
composure is missing.
Llopis also shared seven tips for maintaining
control and composure during pressure-
packed moments:
1. Don’t allow your emotions to get in
the way
2. Don’t take things personally
3. Keep a positive mental attitude
4. Remain fearless
5. Respond decisively
6. Take accountability
7. Act like you’ve been there before
This is not new thinking. Marcus Aurelius,
Roman Emperor in 161-180, said “You have
power over your mind - not outside
events. Realize this, and you will find
strength.”
Put this into practice
Think of a time when you lost your
composure in a pressure situation, and
answer the following:
• Describe the situation in detail.
Determine which parts of the situation
were outside your control.
• How did you respond to the
circumstances that were not within your
control?
• What could you have done differently to
impact the outcome of the challenge?
• What did you learn from this experience?
Now think about a situation that you are
facing in the near future.
• What is your plan for effectively
managing this challenge?
• What three intentions do you have for
the outcome?
• How can you prepare yourself personally
for these circumstances?
We can’t always change our conditions, but
we can certainly change our attitude about
our conditions. When you have this mindset
and practice it every chance you get, you can
find blessings within the challenges you face.
This will help reduce your stress level when
you find yourself in a pressure situation and
will allow you to better manage it.
Enjoy the journey. Enjoy the battle.
Betsy Westhafer is the founder of ActionMasters
Network. She is an Extreme Focus Certified Mental
Performance Coach and serves as the Editor-in-Chief
of
Extreme Focus Magazine
.
Betsy@actionmastersnetwork.com513-464-6352
Relieve Stress the Koala Bear Way
BETSY WESTHAFER