You think too much!!

You think too much to lead yourself through this period of disruption with any sense of calm and grace.

I had a moment of seeing how much my mind was churning.

It is a vivid picture in my mind. I can still feel the sensations that came with it.

Thinking. An ability I rated as a strength, suddenly looked to me like an over-used tool.

I was physically and mentally exhausted. The business I was leading had two large contracts that did not proceed due to change of leadership and we were caught out. The simultaneous timing had us falling off a growth path, to being financially stranded. Cash is King. The issues could be rationalised; however, I knew the buck stopped with me. There were plans that no longer would happen. There were commitments to be honoured and payment plans to be negotiated. I could not contain the fall out into a “work compartment” and there would be implications at home too.

As well as the thinking required for the specific actions that needed to be taken, my mind was churning.

You think too much!

• Re-running through mistakes and missed opportunities made along the way.
• Worrying, what if…
• Impatient with situation not in control and happening as I expected (ah, the illusion of control.)
• Fighting the urge to “take control” and sort things out.
• Focusing on the positive and pleasant in an unbalanced way.
• Avoiding the difficult and unpleasant tasks.
• Basing my self-validation on constant performance and achievement. Often discounting my latest achievement and needing more.
• Getting so hung up in work mode that I had an intense focus on the rational processing of everything, including relationships!
• Vigilance of all the risks and what could go wrong that can never rest.
• Feeling resentful after trying too hard to please.
• Trying to make too many things perfect.
• Feeling the Martyr when I had done everything I felt possible.
• Constantly in search of greater development, the next activity, the next buzz. Rarely content with the current activity.

This “thinking” is just patterns running through my mind. Churning. Not being the best version of myself.

What’s the path to turning off this unnecessary thinking??

Most people have seen some version of this model or know of the famous quote by Viktor Frankl:

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.”

 ~ Viktor Frankl

While many of us are intellectually aware of this concept, less practise it as part of our leadership way of working.

I am on my journey and now help many high achieving leaders bring calm and grace to their way of life.

What has been your experience?

Bernie

This article is part of the Chief of Transformation topic.

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Bernie is known for building capability and confidence in leaders who need to transform organisations that are continually reshaping to survive and thrive.

His career in whole of enterprise and cross-organisation shifts, and then 10 years Business Transformation Diagnostics, Training, and Mentoring across Australia and SE Asia. Currently working with leaders who are focused on accelerated development and re-imagination of industry value systems. He loves contributing to leaders, teams and networks successfully transitioning to the next phase. 

In 2020 Bernie authored Traction: Building Change-fit Leadership Teams.

Bernie welcomes connecting with and talking to leaders tackling the challenges of team and network transitions.

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