When your growth stalls, ask why?

We’ve all hit a wall at some point. You may run up against a competitor you can’t beat, lose your job despite your best efforts or encounter some other kind of roadblock. When you can’t go forward, the only way to keep moving is to take a step back. Some people think stepping back is the same as admitting failure. Others think they can simply smash through the wall in front of them. Being flexible and willing to pivot can greatly increase your chances of success. So pause, step back and reassess your career and your goals. Ask yourself: Why have I stopped growing? What are some areas that might let me grow again?

(Adapted from What to Do When Your Personal Growth Stalls, by Whitney Johnson)

Use a visual system to track knowledge work

Much of the knowledge work we do is invisible. In a typical office, people hunch over their computers or type on their phones, but what they’re actually doing is harder to see. So how can leaders tell whether the work is being done properly? And how can employees tell whether their work processes are functioning as well as possible? One method that both individuals and teams can use is to implement a visual system for tracking work. Whether it’s a cloud-based app like Trello or something closer to an agile project board, visual systems reduce the need for regular update meetings and memos, freeing up everyone’s time. They also help make timelines more apparent by plainly showing what’s happening in a process. You may be surprised how making work visible makes it easier to complete.

(Adapted from How Visual Systems Make It Easier to Track Knowledge Work, by Daniel Markovitz)

Let gratitude guide self-improvement

When we ask ourselves where we can improve, the list often comes from our shortcomings: maybe we talk too much, waste too much time or focus on low-priority things. So we think about improving by reversing the list: talk less, be more productive, focus on high-priority things. Trying to fix these shortcomings works for a day or two, but then we usually revert to old behaviours. So instead of focusing on new habits, we can better set ourselves up for success by being intentional about our current behaviours. To do that, think about what you’re grateful for, the things you’re already doing that you enjoy: Spending time with family? Working on favourite projects? Planning the year ahead? Then focus on improving those things. Letting a sense of gratitude guide your self-improvement will help you focus on what really matters to you, which will make achieving those things all the more satisfying.

(Adapted from How Gratitude Can Help Your Career, by Peter Bregman)

Social ties at work

Relationships at work matter both for making your workday more pleasant and for helping you do your job better. But many of us shy away from making friends with our co-workers, even if we’ve known them for years. If your social ties at the office aren’t as strong as you’d like, here’s how to improve them:

— Start small. Find one or two colleagues who have things in common with you, then ask them to lunch or coffee.

— Use the time before meetings. Even short interactions about TV shows, movies or sports can build relationships over time.

— Ask questions. If you’re worried about running out of things to say, ask your colleague what she’s working on right now or what she’s interested in.

— Make the time. Busy schedules are an easy excuse. Block off 30 or 60 minutes to talk to colleagues or go for a walk together.

(Adapted from How to Build the Social Ties You Need at Work, by Amy Gallo)

Managing inner critic

Self-doubt can have a tremendous negative impact. If you’re hampered by a harsh inner critic, you’re likely to talk yourself out of sharing your ideas and insights, which hurts you, your team and the company. One of the most powerful ways you can deal with your inner critic is to develop a tool kit for managing self-doubt. To start, first understand that your inner critic isn’t driven by logic, so arguing with it is a waste of time. Instead of arguing, ask yourself where the self-criticism is coming from. Inner critics often stem from inflated fears about vulnerability and failure. Then learn to manage the inner critic. Notice when you hear the voice and what it’s criticising. Are there certain situations or issues that trigger it? Remind yourself that what you’re hearing is unfounded criticism — then decide that you simply won’t take direction from it.

(Adapted from Helping an Employee Overcome Their Self-Doubt, by Tara Mohr)

Published in Dawn, Business & Finance weekly, January 18th, 2016