How Leaders Reset When Reality Overwhelms
Reality has a way of catching up with all of us. It forces us to face our choices and the behaviors we show every day. I want to share a few of my own challenges and how I work through them, not just to learn for myself, but to offer something useful to others.
I spend time reading and writing as part of my own development. Reading gives me new ideas. Writing helps me test those ideas against my own leadership. It challenges me to practice the same principles I encourage in others.
Facing Real Challenges
The hardest challenge I face is living up to the standards I set. My fear is that the words I write will not always match my actions. That tension is real. Writing and reading remind me that my journey is no different from others. We are all working to get better every day.
Like many leaders, I entered a stretch where priorities piled up fast. Routines slipped. Early mornings turned into late nights. Sleep grew lighter, filled with worry about what I might forget. I was more anxious and more irritable. I gave less time to myself and my family than I wanted. At some point, I knew I had to break the cycle.
Resetting With Planning
On a recent drive, I turned off the usual podcasts and let myself think. I realized the pressure I felt was not unique. Many leaders feel the same weight when priorities pile up. I had slipped out of my planning routines and I was holding too much instead of sharing it with capable people around me.
I often write about the importance of planning, yet it remains one of the hardest habits to keep. The urge is always there to just push through the work in front of me. Still, every time I pause to list the tasks, weigh the options, and set a schedule, I feel the relief of being back in control.
Many times, in those sleepless moments, what allows me to get back to sleep is writing down what is on my mind. I know once captured I can take action on it later. Trusting the system of capture, organize, schedule, and act is an integral part of remaining successful in any leadership role. I have to continue to remind myself that it does work, that it does save me time, and it does help me (and my team) stay on track and ahead of the curve.
Accepting Imperfection
The most important reminder is that I am not perfect, and neither is anyone else. I will fall short no matter how much I read or write. That does not make me a bad leader. It makes me human. We all have tough days. We all slip out of routines. We all make mistakes. We all have a choice on how we respond. I choose to start the next day fresh and not let yesterday’s miss become today’s pattern.
If you question where you are or whether your every action lives up to the standard you have for yourself, make sure you are kind and realistic with the person in the mirror. We can all get back on the right track and begin to make a difference once again.
What’s your reset strategy when reality overwhelms?
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