In her November 29 “Your Best Next Move” video, Bobbie LaPorte shares a leadership tip that may seem to contradict her usual advice to take action and keep moving forward. But with the holidays approaching and more curveballs (like the new COVID variant) heading our way, it can all feel like too much. Sometimes your best move is to just say NO.
Transcript of Your Best Next Move: Take the Strike — Leadership Can Let Some Curveballs Go by for the Holidays
Hi everyone, Bobbie LaPorte here again with my weekly tip for your Best Next Move – where I help you have more agency in your work, acknowledge your capacity to act and see what you can do right now.
For the last year + I’ve been talking in this vlog about using the power of personal agency to act during times of uncertainty. This week I’m going to take a contrarian view and ask you to consider not taking action.
Stay with me here.
I am guessing that right now… you are tired. I know I am. After 18+ months of uncertainty and semi-isolation, it was so good to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with family again. Catching up in-person, giving and getting hugs, posing for goofy group photos. All the “normal” things we expect on such a traditional family holiday.
I was definitely still reflecting on the day this morning when I saw the news about the new possible Covid variant that has several countries on lockdown (again) and caused the biggest losses of the year in the markets.
My shoulders just dropped – and I sunk down in my chair. Just when I thought we were turning the corner……the curveballs keep coming.
I know that my mantra has been about dealing with curveballs….but sometimes it’s just too much and you can get overwhelmed.
Between increasing workloads at work, ongoing family obligations, planning for the holidays…and for 2022.
It’s just too much. And when it gets to this point, I want you to know that it’s okay to say, “No.” You don’t have to be an A+ student all the time. No one will fault you if you say you can’t – or at least not now, maybe later.
EVERYONE is feeling the load right now. We understand. We empathize.
So, here’s my tip for leaders to make it through the holidays – and beyond:
Whenever you feel the weight of all the commitments you’ve made; the deadlines you’ve agreed to; the social and family obligations you’ve dutifully said “yes” to (because we so feel the need to “see” people); ask yourself these questions:
- What is really important now?
- What’s the worst thing that could happen if you said “no” – or even “Not now”?
- What gets you excited, fuels your spirit vs. checking off another box?
This is the time to recognize that being a B-player is just fine.
I want 2021 to be a year of momentum for you, one of possibility thinking that takes advantage of the agency we sometimes forget we have… even if that means using it to not take action.
That’s my tip for this week. I’ll see you next week…when we’ll be into the last month of 2021.
Take care of yourselves.